Kimberley - The Golden Lions hammered Griquas 46-8 in their Currie Cup match at GWK Park in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon.
Scoring six tries altogether and bagging the maximum five points in the process, the Lions look set for a home semi-final and possible final in Johannesburg.
Fullback Andries Coetzee got the Lions on the scoreboard with his try in the 12th minute, which winger Ruan Combrinck converted to help give his side a seven point lead.
Combrinck was again called to action a couple of minutes later to kick a penalty and repeated the feat five minutes from half-time.
Two minutes from the break Griquas fullback Gouws Prinsloo kicked a penalty to notch up the first points for his team as the sides headed to the interval with the score 13-3 in favour of the visitors. Lions flank Jaco Kriel scored a try in the 48th minute with Combrinck converting to stretch the lead even further.
What followed was four more tries by the Lions, with lock Franco Mostert, replacement back Albertus Smith and Combrinck adding to the tally. Flank Kriel also scored his second five pointer of the afternoon, not only helping the Lions stamp their authority on the game.
Amid the steady flow of Lions tries, Griquas did manage to get one back, with flanker Carel Greeff going over in the 68th minute, but there was little joy for the Peacock Blues with their participation in next year's qualifying round becoming a reality.
Points scorers:
Golden Lions 46 (13): Tries: Andries Coetzee, Jaco Kriel (2), Franco Mostert, Albertus Smith, Ruan Combrinck. Conversions: Ruan Combrinck (5).
Penalties: Ruan Combrinck (2).
Griquas 8 (3): Try: Carel Greeff. Penalty: Gouws Prinsloo.