The two teams, sporting some of the brightest young rugby stars in the country, including several Junior Boks on either side, met in bright sunlight and brilliant playing conditions.
And they were eager to show their potential, which made for an entertaining match as they threw caution to the wind and dished up some eye-catching, attacking rugby, with WP prevaileling as they capitalised on some crucial home errors to run in two converted tries in the end as the Gautengers desperately tried to score the match-winning try.
The match got off to a cracking start when WP showed their potency on attack through former Junior Bok midfielder Damian Markus who broke down the left flank to feed Jared Africa for an easy try under the posts. But the Lions hit back almost immediately when they worked the ball though a few phases to allow Layton Horn to dive over for their first try, which was converted to make it 7-7.
WP then lost skipper and loose forward Paul de Villiers for 10 minutes because of a yellow card for illegal play, but that didn't prevent flyhalf Kyle Smith to intercept a loose pass for an easy try under the posts for the visitors, who then led by 14-7.
Following a patient build-up, hooker Marno Grobbelaar was sent over for the Highvelders’ second try, in the 25th minute, which Sam Francis also converted to pull the two teams level again, but WP went back into a seven-point lead when their dangerous backline struck once more, allowing Imad Khan to send Joshua Boulle over for their third converted try.
Damian Markus was a constant threat on the attack for DHL WP.
The Lions took advantage of some poor WP defence early in the second half as Grobbelaar took a flat pass to go over for his second try, and after Francis’s conversion – he also landed a penalty goal in the first half – the hosts were leading 24-21.
But minutes later they strayed offside inside their own 22, and Khan made no mistake with the penalty goal to level scores at 24-all.
The home defence struggled to keep the WP backline in check and this time it was fullback JC Mars who showed his dazzling footwork to run from deep, offloading before taking the return pass to score a seven-pointer as WP retook the lead at 31-24.
And barely two minutes later, Junior Bok skipper Zachary Porthen barged his way over as the Cape side stretched their lead to 12 points, at 36-24.
But the Lions must be commended for their fighting spirit as they came charging back. Halfback Layton Horn launched a perfectly weighted kick over the advancing defence for Bronson Mills to score as the hosts narrowed the deficit to 36-31 with 20 minutes to go on the clock.
Christopher Sjoblom secures a lineout for the Fidelity ADT Lions.
The momentum was now with the Lions and Gilermo Mentoe showed his pace on the right wing to draw the defence before putting Keagan Smith away in the corner, to tie the scores once more at 36-36.
With less than five minutes left to play the Lions were penalised for a high tackle, and after missing with his previous two kicking attempts, Khan stepped up to steer a beautifully struck kick through the poles for a 39-36 lead.
Then WP delivered the hammer blow by scoring two tries in as many minutes to seal the deal as the Lions desperately tried to clinch the game.
First Markus started a counter-attacking move deep inside his own 22 that led to the try by Khan that put WP 10 points ahead and then, as the Lions tried to finish with their heads held high, they lost possession again and Gino Cupido raced away for another converted try to the visitors, which skewed the score a bit, considering it was still 36-36 five minutes earlier.
Markus was awarded the Man of the Match accolade for his outstanding performance in the midfield.
Meanwhile, in the SA Rugby U21 Shield competition, Boland beat Border by 29-26 in their semi-final in Wellington to earn hosting rights in next weekend's final, where they will face the Griffons, who beat Griquas by 40-39 in the other playoff match in Kimberley.
Scorers:
Fidelity ADT Lions 36 (17) - Tries: Marno Grobbelaar (2), Layton Horn, Bronson Mills, Keagan Smith. Conversions: Sam Francis (4). Penalty goal: Francis.
DHL Western Province 53 (21) - Tries: Zachary Porthen, Imad Khan, Kyle Smith, Jared Africa, Josh Boulle, JC Mars, Gino Cupido. Conversions: Khan (6). Penalty goals: Khan (2).
