Boshoff stars as Lions down Cheetahs

Feb 15, 2014 - 6:05 PM A last-minute drop goal from debutant Marnitz Boshoff earned the Golden Lions a shock 21-20 triumph over the Central Cheetahs on Saturday in the opening 2014 Super Rugby match.

The fly-half, playing only because first-choice Elton Jantjies is injured, also succeeded with all six penalty attempts to emerge as the star at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Few gave the Lions a chance of victory as they returned to the southern hemisphere inter-provincial championship having won a promotion play-off against the Southern Kings.

But the accurate goal-kicking of Boshoff kept them in touch against opponents, who wasted a chance to build a late five-point lead when fly-half Elgar Watts fluffed a kickable penalty.

It was a dismal start for a home side hoping to build on a sixth-place finish last year -- their highest -- and a narrow play-off loss to Australia's Brumbies.

Replacement Jean Cook did not help the hosts by being sin-binned on 62 minutes just after coming on, although the Lions scored only three points with a numerical superiority.

Wings Raymond Rhule and Cornal Hendricks scored tries, starting fly-half Johan Goosen converted both and he and Watts slotted a penalty each for the Cheetahs.

The home side led 10-9 at half-time.

Source: AAP