The Lions edged back into the top four on the Absa Currie Cup standings with a deserved 27-13 win over Western Province in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The three-tries-to-one win saw the Lions sneak past WP into fourth place at the halfway stage of the competition — with just two points separating the top four teams on the table.

The win was based on the Lions' superior forward power — not just in the set pieces, but also at the breakdown.

Lions captain Cobus Grobbelaar, who played a critical role in securing the home's advantage at the breakdown, said after the game that the "forwards had laid the platform" for a fine victory.

"It was not the most attractive game," Grobbelaar said, adding: "But we will take it anyway.

"We have been working hard at the tackle/breakdown this past week and it paid dividends."

An obviously disappointed WP captain, Gcobani Bobo, also acknowledged the Lions' forward superiority.

"They had us at the breakdown and their defence was strong," he said, adding that Province "will be back" as the competition moves into the second half.

The Lions certainly dominated the set pieces, especially the scrums.

But the real difference was at the breakdowns — where they not only got there in numbers, but also with a lot more vigour.

With Grobbelaar leading the charge, they secured numerous turnovers — especially at crucial stages in the second half when the visitors looked to launch a counter assault.

The Lions backline also deserve some credit for their display — often doing things at pace, and they were much more effective than the flat-footed WP backs.

Western Province were made to pay for some sloppy play early on, when a Schalk Brits clearance as charged down and rush of Lions saw them regather the ball and flank Franco van der Merwe barge over for the first try. Earl Rose added the conversion to give the Lions a 7-0 lead.

Within minutes Western Province had a chance at points — with Willem de Waal getting a shot at goal after the Lions were penalised for not releasing in the tackle. De Waal narrowed the gap to four points — 7-3.

A penalty to the Lions in the 10th minute, after several collapsed scrum, saw Rose stretch the lead back to seven points at 10-3.

Two minutes later the Lions were reduced to 14 men, when the touch judge ruled that lock Dewald Senekal had rubbed his elbow in the face of an opponent and the second row forward was yellow carded for his indiscretion.

Province narrowed the gap to just four points in the 18th minute, when the Lions were penalised for a high tackle and De Waal slotted the penalty for three more points — 10-6.

The two teams continued to run the ball at each other, with overeagerness costing both sides on occasions.

But the next real scoring opportunity went the way of the Lions, a penalty for playing the ball on the ground — with Rose making it 13-6 in favour of the home team.

Just before half-time De Waal had a shot at goal, but it was short and wide, leaving the Lions with that seven-point advantage going into the break.

The second half started with a couple of kicks directly into touch, before the Lions set the stadium alight with a delightful move.

From a scrum just inside the WP 22 Willem Alberts burst to the right and offloaded to Michael Killian, who in turn put scrumhalf Jano Vermaak into space and over the line. Rose's conversion made it 20-6 — a commanding lead.

Province now threw just about all their replacements into the game in the hope of salvaging something.

But a penalty to the Lions for a tackle infringement saw Rose having a shot at goal from just inside his own half. It was just short and wide, but WP were forced to play from deep inside their own territory — as they had for most of the second half.

One of those Province replacements, former South African Schools captain Nick Koster, brought WP back into the game with a great try — after a sniping break by another replacement, Dewaldt Duvenage. De Waal added the conversion to make it a seven-point game once again — 20-13.

Province were further aided by the fact the Brok Harris left the field and they had no more front row forwards replacements left — leaving the scrums — one of their weaknesses - uncontested.

However, the killer blow came in the 80th minute, as WP threw everything and the kitchen sink at the Lions — only to turn over the ball again and Doppies la Grange to sprint over for a try that robbed Province of a bonus point.

The scorers:

For the Lions:
Tries: Van der Merwe, Vermaak, La Grange
Cons: Rose 3
Pens: Rose 2

For Western Province:
Try: Koster
Con: De Waal
Pens: De Waal 2

Yellow card: Dewald Senekal (Lions, 12 — foul play, elbow in face)

Teams:

Lions: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Gert Muller, 18 Justin Wheeler, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 22 Heini Gordon.

Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Dylan Des Fountain, 12 Gcobani Bobo, (captain), 11 Joe Pietersen, 10 Willem De Waal, 9 Bolla Conradie, 8 Schalk Brits, 7 AJ Venter, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 JC Kritzinger, 17 Pieter Louw, 18 Justin Melck, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Tonderai Chavhanga, 22 Morgan Newman.

Referee: Marius Jonker
Touch judges: Jason Jaftha, Piet Badenhorst
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

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