Late drop goals bring Golden Lions victory

Golden Lions, who finished last season at the bottom of the Super 14 table, began the new one at the top after a 34-28 win over Central Cheetahs Friday in an all-South Africa thriller.

A seesaw struggle at Ellis Park saw the Lions surrender a 14-point lead during the second half only to snatch victory through late drop goals by replacement back Andre Pretorius and fly-half Earl Rose.

Ill discipline cost the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs dearly with the Lions scoring two tries while flanker Heinrich Brussow was in the 'sin bin' and another after centre Meyer Bosman received a yellow card.

The Cheetahs also squandered chances when three points adrift during a fiery finish, opting for a scrum from a free kick and failing to secure possession, infringing when pressing the Lions, and losing a line-out on their throw.

Injury plagued right wing Ashwin Willemse, back in South Africa after a spell with French club Biarritz, scored two tries for the Lions and captain and flanker Cobus Grobbelaar and left wing Henno Mentz also crossed the line.

Rose converted the four tries and the tally was completed by the two drop goals that secured success for the Lions, a feat they achieved just twice last season in 13 outings.

Number eight Frans Viljoen, Brussow and centre Jacques-Louis Potgieter touched down for the Cheetahs, who finished one position above the Lions last season.

Potgieter, moved from fly-half this season by coach and former Springbok hooker Naka Drotske in a swop with Bosman, kicked two conversions and three penalty goals in ideal conditions.

"It was great to have Ashwin and Andre back as they kept us calm in the closing stages and collecting a bonus point was vital as we failed badly in that area last year," said Grobbelaar.

Counterpart and official man-of-the-match Juan Smith said: "It was an awesome match played in good spirit but not a good result for us, particularly as we leave tomorrow for Australasia, where we have never won."

The Lions camped inside Cheetahs' territory in the early stages and took a 12th-minute lead when slick handling ended with Grobbelaar diving over in the corner for a converted try.

It was the turn of the Cheetahs to dominate then with a Potgieter penalty followed quickly by a superb Viljoen try which fellow back-row forwards Smith and Brussow set up.

Another spell of Lions' control against 14 men led to Willemse and Mentz, a recruit from the Coastal Sharks, crossing the line before a Potgieter penalty left the home team 21-11 ahead at half-time.

A third Potgieter penalty cut the deficit and United States World Cup flanker Todd Clever came on as a replacement for the Lions before a second Willemse try stretched the lead to 28-14 and clinched a bonus point.

The game turned again as Brussow and Potgieter scored converted tries to bring the teams level with 12 minutes left only for the Cheetahs to lose the initiative in the closing stages.