The Golden Lions used a 10-minute numerical advantage to score three tries en route to a 45-10 Super Rugby triumph over Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on Saturday.
The Johannesburg outfit were 14-5 ahead in the South African derby as halftime approached at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium when Kings flanker Thembelani Bholi was sin-binned.
His yellow card stemmed from the referee losing patience with the Kings for repeated infringements during the match.
While Bholi watched from the touchline, the visitors scored a try before halftime to turn over 21-5 ahead, then notched two more early in the second half for a 28-point advantage.
From then on the only issue was how much the Lions would win by as they consolidated their leadership of the Africa 2 standings.
The Lions have 27 points, the Coastal Sharks 21, the Jaguares seven and the Kings four.
A 7-2 try count earned the Johannesburg side a bonus point.
Lions skipper and No. 8 Warren Whiteley, who scored the opening try of the match after 22 minutes, said his team achieved the twin objections of winning and securing a bonus point.
“We could have been more clinical, though, against a Kings team that I have a lot of respect for,” Whiteley said. “Next weekend we face a huge challenge at home to the Wellington Hurricanes from New Zealand. They are a quality side and we are going to need our ‘A’ game against them.”
Hooker Akker van der Merwe and winger Ruan Combrinck scored two tries each for the Lions, with Whiteley, winger Courtnall Skosan and center Rohan Janse van Rensburg getting one apiece.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies kicked five conversions.
Winger Luzuko Vulindlu and Cloete scored a try each for the Kings, while flyhalf Louis Fouche missed four kicks.
Earlier in Cape Town, Wingers Jaco van Wyk and Leolin Zas scored first-half tries as the Stormers battled to a scrappy 40-22 victory over the Reds at Newlands.
Scrumhalf Nic Groom added a third score in the second half, but the visitors were in the game until the final 15 minutes as they bagged tries through Liam Gill, Karmichael Hunt and Eto Nabuli.
Three penalties from replacement flyhalf Brandon Thomson and a late try by prop Vincent Koch sealed the game for the hosts and ensured the Reds have only one victory after nine matches.
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