Catrakilis boot ends Lions' winning run

Western Province fly-half Demetri Catrakilis kicked 23 points Friday in a 28-26 home win over previously unbeaten Currie Cup leaders Golden Lions. Rival pivot Elton Jantjies had a chance to snatch a stoppage-time victory for the Johannesburg visitors from a penalty inside his half, but the kick dropped well short at Newlands. Called up at the start of the South African championship last month owing to a spate of injuries, Catrakilis has quickly developed into a deadly goal kicker for the Cape Town side. He has accumulated 91 points from six matches -- five less than leading Currie Cup scorer and former France fly-half Frederic Michalak of the Sharks. Nerve-less Catrakilis planted his six penalty attempts between the posts from varying angles and distances, converted a try from centre Johann Sadie and dropped a goal. The only goal-kicking blemish by Jantjies was his effort to salvage the match as he slotted three penalties and a drop goal and converted tries by centres Alwyn Hollenbach and Lionel Mapoe. Lions did pick up a bonus point for losing by less than eight points and remain top of the table after six rounds with 23 points. Defending champions Sharks had a comfortable 23-3 home win over bottom-of-the-table Platinum Leopards in Durban to lie second one point adrift with record 28-time champions Province third. Blue Bulls continued to move up the table with a six-try 44-20 triumph over Griqualand West in Pretoria that left them fifth, 10 points behind the Lions with eight rounds to go. Province began as if they had exclusive rights to the ball, dominating possession and territory and building a six-point advantage before the Lions crossed the try-line twice with five minutes. Scrum-half Michael Bondesio set up the first for Hollenbach on 23 minutes with a grubber kick that Province fumbled and Mapoe sprinted clear from inside his '22' after an intercept. The Lions were ahead 17-9 at half-time only to lose and regain the lead twice in a tense second half before Catrakilis won the match with a 75th-minute penalty from close to the touchline. Bloemfontein-based Free State Cheetahs will climb two places to fourth Saturday if they can achieve a bonus-point victory at home to lowly Mpumalanga Pumas.