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Lions relish a bite on the Blue Bulls in their Currie Cup derby

Meshack Khotha

Meshack Khotha

Lions' captain Ernest Joubert says they are now focusing on their derby against the Blue Bulls this week after earning a hard-fought 14-7 victory over the Sharks on Saturday.

Speaking to Sowetan after their Currie Cup game at Ellis Park Stadium, flank Joubert said they would be preparing to register their second win against the Bulls at Loftus on Saturday in Pretoria .

An exhilarted Joubert said the game had brought their confidence back after going down 13-18 to the Western Province in the opener in Cape Town last week.

Said Joubert: "It was not an easy match and the Sharks were more aggressive in the opening minutes of the game.

"We could not break their line down because they were also superb defensively before they wilted in the second half.

" Congratulations to my teammates whose perseverance paid handsomely in the second half.''

Coach Eugene Eloff said the Lions' outstanding defence and commitment largely contributed to their success on the day.

His counterpart John Plumtree said he was disappointed that his team threw away valuable points in the opening tie.

"We struggled a little bit up front and did not use our inviting opportunities effectively despite enjoying ball possession for the better part of the first half,'' said Plumtree.

The Lions' scrumhalf Jano Vermaak gave his side a 3-0 lead from a penalty kick in the 37th minute but two minutes later Sharks' Rory Kockott failed to equalise from their penalty.

Barely two minutes after recess the Lions were awarded a penalty after the Sharks were penalised for infringement and Lions' scrumhalf Jano Vermaak made no mistake (6-0).

In the process the Lions widened the margin to 14-0 through Jaco van Schalkwyk (drop goal) and Cobus Grobbelaar (try).

The Sharks reduced the margin to 14-7 through substitute Gcobani Bobo (try) and Kockott (conversion).

Other results: Cheetahs 45, Falcons 11; Boland 15, Western Province 10; Wildeklawer Griquas 26, Blue Bulls 18.

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