Renzo du Plessis scored a hat-trick of tries as the Lions strengthened their Currie Cup playoffs bid with a huge win over DHL Western Province in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The powerful openside flanker touched down three times inside the first 34 minutes as the Lions raced into a 28-8 half-time lead, before the hosts completed a bonus-point 41-22 victory at Ellis Park.
It was a third win on the trot for Mzwakhe Nkosi’s charges in this year’s edition of rugby’s oldest competition, and cements their place in the top four with three rounds left of the regular season.
For WP, it was a fifth defeat of the campaign and the Capetonians must regroup to face the Sharks XV in Cape Town in seven days’ time, while the Pride travel to Bloemfontein to tackle defending champions, the Cheetahs, next Saturday.
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A first-half try from flyhalf Bronson Mills, to go with two penalties and a conversion from scrumhalf Nico Steyn, also helped power the Lions in front on Saturday, while a JC Mars five-pointer and Jurie Matthee penalty kept the visitors in the game at the break.
Fullback Quan Horn dotted down minutes after the interval and Steyn added the extras to give the Lions the perfect start to the second stanza.
The Lions No 9 followed it up with his third penalty of the match before Mars crossed the whitewash to complete his brace and an easy conversion for Matthee.
Matthee split the uprights once again after replacement Paul de Villiers barged over from close range to close the gap on the scoreboard to 18 points as the match entered the final quarter.
Steyn, though, banked his fourth penalty to extend the Lions’ advantage and the home side held on for an emphatic result on the Highveld.
Veteran prop Steven Kitshoff, meanwhile, completed 51 minutes for WP on Saturday, having not played since May, in a good sign for Springbok and DHL Stormers rugby.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
