Lions dent Otago's playoff hopes
Source: Agencies |
May 29, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Wikus van Heerden planted a last-minute try to hand the Lions a dramatic upset win over the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin yesterday and put the New Zealand side's Super 15 playoff hopes in jeopardy.
The Highlanders, clinging to sixth in the standings and the final wildcard place for the postseason, held a 22-19 lead in the dying moments but were stunned when lock van Heerden barged over the line under a pile of players in the left-hand corner to seal the win with a minute to spare.
It was only the third victory of the season for the Johannesburg-based Lions but the result could mean the Highlanders slip to eighth with three rounds to play.
Highlanders flyhalf Lima Sopoaga had kicked his team to the brink of victory, landing a conversion and five penalties for 17 points.
Sopoaga had fought a kicking duel with his young flyhalf rival Elton Jantjies throughout the match and seemed to have gained the upper hand when his fifth penalty in the 67th minute gave the Highlanders a 22-19 lead. Jantjies kept a spotless record, kicking two conversions and four penalties for 16 points.
In Canberra, Australia, the Stormers increased their lead in the South Africa conference with a 16-3 win over the ACT Brumbies yesterday.
The Cape Town-based Stormers led 6-3 at halftime and kept the home side scoreless in the second half while scoring the only try of the match.
Francois Louw scored the five-pointer and Kurt Coleman had a conversion and two penalties to lead the Stormers' scoring. Christian Lealiifano's penalty goal in the first half was the only scoring for the home side.
The Highlanders, clinging to sixth in the standings and the final wildcard place for the postseason, held a 22-19 lead in the dying moments but were stunned when lock van Heerden barged over the line under a pile of players in the left-hand corner to seal the win with a minute to spare.
It was only the third victory of the season for the Johannesburg-based Lions but the result could mean the Highlanders slip to eighth with three rounds to play.
Highlanders flyhalf Lima Sopoaga had kicked his team to the brink of victory, landing a conversion and five penalties for 17 points.
Sopoaga had fought a kicking duel with his young flyhalf rival Elton Jantjies throughout the match and seemed to have gained the upper hand when his fifth penalty in the 67th minute gave the Highlanders a 22-19 lead. Jantjies kept a spotless record, kicking two conversions and four penalties for 16 points.
In Canberra, Australia, the Stormers increased their lead in the South Africa conference with a 16-3 win over the ACT Brumbies yesterday.
The Cape Town-based Stormers led 6-3 at halftime and kept the home side scoreless in the second half while scoring the only try of the match.
Francois Louw scored the five-pointer and Kurt Coleman had a conversion and two penalties to lead the Stormers' scoring. Christian Lealiifano's penalty goal in the first half was the only scoring for the home side.
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