URC result: Lions second half show smashes Dragons

Lions wing Angelo Davids competes for the ball with Dragons wing Jared Rosser during their URC match at Ellis Park on Saturday evening. Picture: Gallo Images The Lions were given a tough time, but eventually kicked up a gear in the second half to power their way to a 42-26 bonus point United Rugby Championship (URC) win over a fighting Dragons team at Ellis Park on Saturday evening. A closely fought first half sawthe Lionstake just a four point lead into the halftime break, before the Dragons hit the front early in the second, but a four try burst from the hosts then saw them pull away for a comfortable win.

The five points briefly liftsthe Lionsup into the URC top four, but they could slip down to fifth later tonight if Ulster beat Zebre in Parma. It was a strong start to the match for the Lions, with them largely attacking and the Dragons clearing over the first few minutes. That saw the hosts take the lead in the fifth minute when the early pressure finally told, as they attacked off a goal line drop out.

Loose forward Ruan Venter made the initial strong carry, with the recycled ball finding outside centre Henco van Wyk for a half break, with him offloading to loose forward Siba Mahashe to make a superb run, stepping through and powering over for the unconverted try. The Dragons responded well, first getting held up over the line, before taking the lead in the 15thminute, as they attacked off a lineout on the Lions 22m, outside centre Fine Inisi broke the line and offloaded to inside centre Aneurin Owen for the converted try. The Lions were soon back in front two minutes later, as they earned a penalty in front off the kick off andflyhalf Chris Smithslotted it to put them up 8-7.

[paywall]

In the 26thminute the Lions were in for their second, chasing a kick into the Dragons 22m and stealing the ball, with it swung to replacement back Richard Kriel to hit a gap and go over, with Smith’s conversion putting them ahead by eight. But the Dragons hit back five minutes later from a lineout in the Lions half, as they overthrew it and attacked, with the ball going through the hands before Owen was in for his second, converted by flyhalf Angus O’Brien to cut the deficit to one. Going into halftime Smith had two shots at goal from in front, missing one and slotting the other to take an 18-14 lead into the break.

[/paywall]