It was an absolutely thrilling battle, with the Lions finally winning late in the second half.
The Lions suffered a major scare in a thrilling Currie Cup semi-final but rallied to claim a 43-34 win over the Cheetahs at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon to reach the final for the first time since 2019.
The main Lions on the table were hot favorites in the matchBut it was the reigning champions, Chitas, who were the first to take the start and stayed in the game until the last few minutes, when the home team won.
The first half of the match was a tightly fought one, and the Cheetas started with a clear victory thanks to midfielder Ethan Wentzel.
He gave his side the perfect start in the fourth minute with a brilliant cross into the Lions' half to seal the win, and six minutes later he led a counter-attack from outside the penalty area. Lions Forward Mounier Harzenberg sent Wenzel over the goal line to run close to the posts.
Both goals were converted by Wenzel and Citas took a 14-0 lead after just 10 minutes, putting the hosts under immense pressure.
Strike back
Lions strike back at 19y minute, they tried to take a shot from the Cheetahs' goal line, but Lions midfielder Cade Wolhuter pounced on the ball, and eighth man Jarod Cairns picked it up and raced under the boards to score.
In the 30sy The Lions equalised within a minute when pivot Asenati Ntlabakanye broke through the Cheetahs defence in the 22nd minute and ran to score, with Wolhuter adding another goal.
Late in the half, the Cheetas scored a third goal, attacking from a lineout just outside the Lions' 22-metre area and then passing the ball across the goal line to right-back Koen Jasper, who scored into the corner in the 34th minute.y minute.
But the hosts still had time to respond, attacking from outside their own penalty area as right winger Rabz Maxwane made the first breakthrough, followed by Wolhuter before a deflected ball was found along the goal line by Ruan Venter, who headed in a corner to make it 19-19.
The second half started off tense, with the Lions attacking from their own half, blocking Darrien-Lane Landsberg, breaking through the middle and passing to Marius Lowe, who ran in front, and Wolhuter's additional goals gave the team a 26-19 lead.
Quick double
However, the Chitas responded with a quick double, first straight from the kick-off, taking possession and bringing Victor Sekekete onto the court, and then a powerful strike from replacement hooker Vernon Paulo to seal the deal, but both conversions were missed to make it 29-26 in the 48th minute.
Yellow card for Lowe for a tackle in the 50th minutey The Lions' situation worsened with a minute, but they held out for 10 minutes without losing anything, and substitute midfielder Sanele Nohamba equalised with a penalty in the 59th minute.y minute.
In 64y Nohamba scored a superb solo goal after they attacked from the lineout in the 22nd minute for the Cheetahs. He received the ball, beat two players and ran in to score, putting his team ahead 36-29.
The Lions then sealed the win with a stunning breakthrough effort from substitute Morne Brandon in the 75th minute.y minute when he intercepted a rebound pass midway through and, with astonishing speed, raced forward, before breaking through to score after a tackle attempt late in the game.
The Cheetas were still unable to escape as midfielder George Lawrence was substituted with three minutes remaining, but his decisive attempt went wide of the posts, allowing the Lions to comfortably take the win to the end of the match.
Bombers
Lions: Tries – Jarod Cairns, Asenati Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter, Marius Louw, Sanele Nohamba, Morne Brandon; Conversions – Kade Wolhuter (3), Nohamba (2); Penalties – Nohamba
Cheetahs: Tries – Ethan Wentzel (2), Koen Jasper, Victor Sekekete, Vernon Paulo, George Lawrence; Conversions – Wentzel (2)