Free State beat the Golden Lions by 28-17 in the final match of the 2011 Craven Week on Saturday, meaning the Free Staters have once again ended up as the provincial kings of South African schoolboy rugby.
Both teams scored three tries each, but the Lions were guilty of far too many errors and not taking their chances on the day in a quality encounter at Kimberley's GWK Park.
Free State, on the other hand, needed no second invitation - when it came to taking their opportunities - and, at one stage, a rout looked on the cards as they led 28-5 after 52 minutes.
FS back Jannie Strumpher kicked two conversions and three penalties, to go with tries by wing Ruwellyn Isbell, scrumhalf Nhlanhla Hlongwane and centre Jan Serfontein, whilst the Lions could muster just one successful kick at goal - a conversion by Tshepo Mooki - from five attempts.
The Lions' tries were scored by flyhalf Jaco van der Walt, prop Dirk Kotzé and winger Senzo Shabalala.
Free State led 13-5 at half-time.
The scorers:
For the Free State:
Tries: Isbell, Hlongwane, Serfontein
Cons: Strumpher 2
Pens: Strumpher 3
For the Golden Lions:
Tries: Van der Walt, Kotzé, Shabangu
Con: Mooki
The teams:
Free State: 15 Wihan Lombard, 14 Franscois Pretorius, 13 Dries Swanepoel (captain), 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Ruwellyn Isbell, 10 Pieter Jordaan, 9 Nhlanhla Hlongwane, 8 Jacob Nicolaas Immelman, 7 Leneve Damens, 6 Henco Greyling, 5 Gerhardus Olivier, 4 Thuso Chalatsi, 3 Johann Fouche, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Kwena Collins Moremi.
Replacements: 16 Frans Jordaan, 17 Philip Botha, 18 Hendrik-Schalk Theron, 19 Mosoeu Maruping, 20 Mualaba Mukendi, 21 Arnoldus Vosloo, 22 Jannie Strumpher.
Lions: 15 C-Than Moos, 14 Charlton Afrika, 13 Shaun Conradie, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Tshepo Mooki, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ruhann Kruger, 8 Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 7 Christiaan Massyn, 6 Tumelo Moloi, 5 Philip du Preez, 4 Jan Stander, 3 Dirk Kotzé, 2 Eugene le Maitre, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Theunis Reynolds, 17 Jaco Victor, 18 Sabath Mmatli, 19 Daniel Bope, 20 Sifiso Shabangu, 21 Chad de Klerk, 22 Senzo Shabalala.
Referee: Lusanda Jam
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