Winger Danwel Demas illustrated his finishing power for the second time on tour when he flopped over in the 79th minute to set up de Waal’s moment of glory.
The weather conditions dictated that there would be little flowing rugby but the Lions will be frustrated that despite leading at the break, they could only muster a penalty in the second half as the home side fought back valiantly to level matters.
The Lions kicked off and immediately snaffled the ball from the Emerging Springboks. All the early running was with the tourists as the Lions forward pack rumbled away. Eventually skipper O’Gara made a break to set up a ruck from where the men in green infringed. Inexplicably, the normally reliable O’Gara fluffed his chance.
The Lions continued to have the upper hand in the opening exchanges in the ninth minute Riki Flutey won a penalty for his team and this time O’Gara nailed the penalty.
Junior Boks full back Zane Kirchner had a moment to forget when he kicked the ball directly into Martyn Williams’s midrift and the quick witted flanker put Flutey racing clear. The centre set up a ruck from where Keith Earls took the ball in the fly half position to dance his way over. With O’Gara’s conversion, the Lions held a 10-0 lead.
The heavens opened in the 20th minute just as Earl Rose was set to shoot at goal. It was no surprise when his kick from 40m never threatened as the wind blew the ball off course.
Jano Vermaak stole the ball from the back of a Lions scrum to dash towards the opposition’s try-line. The Lions defence was stretched and conceded a penalty which Rose converted to make the score 10-3 at the break.
Rose cut the deficit to three points in the 50th minute after the Lions backs were caught off side. With the wind and rain sweeping across Newlands, the elements was slowly turning the game into a lottery.
Rose had a chance to chip away at the lead in the 62nd minute but he sliced his shot in trying conditions.
With four minutes remaining Phil Vickery, who was battered and bruised after Saturday’s mauling in the scrum, drove Pat Cilliers backwards who was forced to give away the penalty. Replacement fly half James Hook banged over the penalty to ensure the Emerging Springboks had to score twice if they were going to force a win.
Demas ensured the game would finish in dramatic fashion when he dived over in the last minute after the Emerging Springboks threw the kitchen sink at the Lions. The ball was flung wide from de Waal with the clinical winger Demas finishing in style. Up stepped de Waal who slotted the sideline conversion as the hooter sounded to give the Junior Boks an unlikely draw.
Scorers: Emerging Springboks: Try – Demas; Con – de Waal; Pens – Rose (2)
Lions: Try – Earls; Con – O’Gara; Pens – O’Gara, Hook.
