Euro hopes end as Lions roar
A youthful Dragons side saw qualification hopes in the EPCR Challenge Cup come to an end as free-flowing Lions claimed a 60-10 victory – and knockout rugby - at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg.
The Men of Gwent had not beaten the Lions in six attempts and early tries from Francke Horn and Sam Francis put the South Africans in control.
Further scores from Ruan Venter and Tapiwa Mafura wrapped up the bonus point inside 28 minutes as the hosts led 31-3 by the interval.
Replacement Paula Latu scored his first try for the club but the home side continued to impress with Horn and Venter both getting braces while Gianni Lombard, Jaco Visagie and Manuel Rass also scored.
Interim Head Coach Fio Tiatia made seven changes with Aneurin Owen installed as captain while there were recalls for Will Reed, Huw Anderson, and Ewan Rosser in a young back line.
Aaron Wainwright missed the game through injury so a new-look pack featured returns for George Nott, Shane Lewis-Hughes and Ryan Woodman.
An electrifying start from Lions saw them power into contact and maintain a possession to win an early penalty that Sam Francis slotted for a fourth minute lead.
A cross field kick from Will Reed picked our captain Owen on the flank and this time Lions gave away the penalty. Will Reed’s kick, though, from 45 metres hit the post.
The visiting fly half made amends two minutes later with another penalty at the ruck that he slotted over.
The Lions struck the first major blow of the game when Dragons spilled the ball as they looked to run out and slick hands and a low wide pass sent home Number Eight Francke Horn over.
A first set piece from the home side resulted in a driving maul that earned a penalty for side entry. Pressure built and despite a brave defensive effort the second try was scored and converted by Francis.
Dragons were being turned by the Lions kicking game and a wicked bounce put Anderson under pressure before Dyer ran the ball out and won a penalty for a high tackle.
The Lions moved further ahead when back row Ruan Venter broke clear and then bounced off tacklers to crash over. Francis added the extras.
Lions were dominating possession and territory, and another bust up the middle, after a scrum penalty, saw Tapiwa Mafura score in the corner.
The penalties were piling up against Dragons while the free running Lions had clocked up over 270 metres inside half an hour as they looked to keep turning the screw.
A penalty and massive resulting kick gave the Lions another attack before the break, but the Dragons held firm to get to the break where they could regroup.
Dragons made two half-time changes with Morgan Lloyd and Brodie Coghlan on, and the young scrum half set off a move that saw Westwood and Anderson shot down the left into space.
Lions grabbed a fifth when the Francke Horn shrugged odd tacklers to score in the corner.
A tap and go from Lloyd saw Ryan Woodman just pulled down short before replacement Paula Latu bulldozed over men to score. Reed added the extras.
The Lions showed some superb interplay to score once more, Gianni Lombard the man to benefit from a slicing run from Quan Horn, before replacement hooker Jaco Visagie crashed over from a driving maul.
Venter grabbed a second after the neat inside pass from Nico Steyn as Lions looked to keep pace in the game.
A late charge saw Lloyd Evans kick to the corner, after a series of penalties against the home side, but Lions held firm and had the final word with a score from Manuel Rass on the final whistle.
Timeline:
04m Francis p 3-0
08m Reed p 3-3
09m F. Horn t Francis c 10-3
16m Francis t Francis c 17-3
23m Venter t Francis c 24-3
27m Mafura t Francis c 31-3
49m F. Horn t 36-3
54m Latu t Reed c 36-10
57m Lombard t 41-10
62m Visagie t 46-10
67m Venter t Lombard c 53-10
80m Rass t Lombard c 60-10
Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Tapiwa Mafura, Henco van Wyk, Rynhardt Jonker, Edwill van der Merwe, Sam Francis, Morne van den Berg; Juan Schoeman, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Etienne Oosthuizen, Darrien Landsberg, JC Pretorius, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn
Replacements: Jaco Visagie, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Ruan Delport, Jarod Cairns, Nico Steyn, Gianni Lombard, Manuel Rass
Dragons RFC: Huw Anderson, Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood (Ackerman 58), Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser, Will Reed (Evans 67), Che Hope (Lloyd 40); Rodrigo Martinez (Kelleher-Griffiths 62), Elliot Dee (Coghlan 40), Chris Coleman (Latu 50), Joe Davies (Langton-Cryer 47), George Nott, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham (Young 62)
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Paula Latu, Barny Langton-Cryer, George Young, Morgan Lloyd, Lloyd Evans, Harri Ackerman
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (Fra)
