Super Rugby
Boshoff stars as Lions down Cheetahs
February 15, 2014
Report Match details
Date/Time: Feb 15, 2014, 17:05 local, 15:05 GMT
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Cheetahs 20 - 21 Lions
Half-time: 10 - 9
Tries: Hendricks, Rhule
Cons: Goosen 2
Pens: Goosen, Watts
 Pens: Boshoff 6
Drops: Boshoff
Lions fly-half Marnitz Boshoff attempts a penalty, Lions v Cheetahs, Super Rugby, Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, February 15, 2014
Lions fly-half Marnitz Boshoff scored all 21 points in his side's upset victory
 © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Cornal Hendricks

A last-minute drop goal from debutant Marnitz Boshoff earned the Lions a shock 21-20 triumph over the Cheetahs 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 the 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.

The Lions made the perfect start to their Super Rugby return with victory against the Cheetahs (Australia only)
© AAP

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