Marius Louw congratulates PJ Botha after teh Lions hooker scored against the Sharks on Saturday.
Image: Lions Rugby
The Emirates Lions and DHL Stormers injected drama into the Vodacom United Rugby Championship on Saturday with impressive victories over the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Vodacom Bulls, respectively.
Their performances in the Gauteng-based derbies have created a tight contest in the standings, making the race for the play-offs more intense with six rounds of regular season matches remaining.
The Lions put on a commanding display in Johannesburg, securing a 38-14 bonus-point victory over the Sharks. Leading 19-0 at halftime, the Lions continued their dominance in the second half, ultimately running in six tries to the visitors’ two.
The home side set the tone early, with PJ Botha crossing the whitewash in the sixth minute. Francke Horn doubled the lead just eight minutes later, capitalising on strong forward play. The Lions went further ahead when Edwill van der Merwe raced through for their third try just before halftime.
The second half saw more of the same, as Richard Kriel secured the bonus-point try just a minute after play resumed. Jarod Cairns and Gianni Lombard added further tries, stretching the lead to an emphatic 38-0 by the 70th minute. While the Sharks managed two late consolation tries through Ethan Hooker and Siya Kolisi, it was not enough to change the outcome.
The Lions’ well-structured tactical kicking and disciplined defence kept the Sharks at bay, securing a crucial win that saw them climb to ninth place in the standings, only one point behind eighth-placed Connacht.
The Stormers emerged victorious in a gripping 19-16 North-South derby against the Bulls at a rain-drenched Loftus Versfeld. The game, which was delayed by over an hour due to lightning and heavy downpours, proved to be a physical battle dictated by tactical play and breakdown efficiency.
Both sides struggled to execute open-play rugby in the wet conditions, leading to a first half dominated by penalty goals. The Bulls’ David Kriel slotted three penalties, while the Stormers’ Jurie Matthee landed four, giving the visitors a narrow 12-9 halftime lead.
The Bulls suffered an early setback as Springbok Canan Moodie was forced off with an injury just six minutes into the match. Further compounding their woes, Willie le Roux received a yellow card for a cynical infringement ten minutes later.
Despite relentless pressure from the Bulls in the dying moments, Evan Roos won a decisive breakdown turnover near the Stormers’ try line, sealing the victory for the visitors. This hard-fought win ensures the Stormers remain in contention for a play-off spot, keeping the race for the SA Shield alive.
The results have significantly tightened the Vodacom URC standings, with the Bulls holding onto third place with 41 points, just three behind the second-placed Glasgow Warriors. The Sharks remain fourth with 34 points, while the Lions' win propels them into ninth place, level on 28 points with the Stormers, Ospreys, Scarlets, and Benetton.
With a game in hand, the Sharks and Lions will meet again in Durban next week, a match that could be pivotal in determining the SA Shield winner and shaping the play-off picture.
The Vodacom URC action is heating up, and with just six rounds remaining, every match is a must-win for teams eyeing a spot in the quarter-finals. Rugby fans can expect more high-intensity battles as the competition reaches its climax.
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