Lions maintain fine form, Chiefs pushed by Sunwolves
Lions cemented their position at the top of Super Rugby’s Africa 2 Conference on Saturday with a battling 24-15 victory over strugglers Western Force.
Although the Force failed to score a try in Perth, their visitors’ success was only made certain when Elton Jantjies crossed for his team’s third try in the 82nd minute.
Five penalties from Ian Prior had kept the Force in touch despite first-half tries from Lionel Mapoe and Courtnall Skosan for the Lions.
Jantjies’ late score, which he converted to finish with a personal haul of 14 points, earned Lions a bonus point as the South African side claimed an eighth win from nine games in 2017. They are now 11 points clear of the second-placed Stormers.
Chiefs were made to work hard for a 27-20 victory over Sunwolves that lifted them to the summit of the New Zealand Conference, ahead of Crusaders’ visit to Cheetahs.
Damian McKenzie scored two of Chiefs’ four tries, but the gutsy Sunwolves fought back from 20-3 down at the break to earn a deserved bonus point.
Bernard Foley was the hero for Waratahs as they came from behind to edge out Queensland Reds 29-26.
The Tahs were out-scored four tries to two, but snatched victory as Foley kicked his fifth penalty of the match in the 78th minute to finish with 19 points.
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