The return of several experienced players could not make the difference for the Lions in Kimberley as their winless Currie Cup campaign continued with a 49-17 loss to Griquas on Wednesday afternoon.

The Lions, who have been playing in the Currie Cup with a very young squad, welcomed the likes of Jannie du Plessis, James Tedder, Ginter Smuts and Rabz Maxwane to the team to face Griquas.

However, that did little to help as the Lions’ winless woes continued.

For Griquas, who led 14-3 at half time, the win further entrenched their place in the top four. Pieter Bergh’s team are now level on 15 points with the third-placed Vodacom Bulls, who face the Sharks later on Wednesday, and have a nine-point lead on Western Province, who face the Cheetahs.

The Lions did take an early lead in the match through Tedder’s penalty, but from there it was all Griquas as the home side scored tries through wing Munier Hartzenberg and scrumhalf Johan Mulder in the first half.

Even though they lost lock Derik Pretorius to a yellow card, Griquas continued their momentum in the second half, with Sango Xamlashe and young prop Kudzwai Dube going over to seal the four-try bonus point.

In an end-to-end finish, the Lions scored a couple of excellently worked tries through substitute James Mollentze and wing Divan Rossouw, but those would only prove to be a consolation.

Photo: Twitter/@GriquasRugby