26th Feb 2021
A young Lions side showed true mettle in their 32-28 victory over the New Nation Pumas at Emirates Airline Park on a chilly Friday evening.
It was a team effort spearheaded by an inspiring new captain Reinhard Nothnagel who lead from the front all night.
The Pumas were first to score in the seventh minute but the lead was short-lived as Lions flyhalf Tiaan Swanepoel soon slotted his first penalty kick of the night.
The Pumas eventually lead for most of the first half before exciting Lions scrumhalf Morné van den Berg scored a scintillating long-distance try, converted by Swanepoel for the teams to take a breather 13-13 at half-time.
The second half was mostly dominated by kicks from the two fly-halves and with fifteen minutes left on the clock, the visitors had a man over on the other side to score their second and third tries of the game.
But the Lions replacements still had something to say and made a huge impact in the last ten minutes, especially Luke Rossouw and Dillon Smit who both had a hand in MJ Pelser’s try late in the half.
It was not perfect but new coach Mzwakhe Nkosi will be happy with the win.
Points:
Lions: Tries: Morné van den Berg, MJ Pelser. Conversions: Tiaan Swanepoel (2). Penalties: Swanepoel (6)