Dominant Lions Roar To Victory Over Dragons In Challenge Cup Showdown

The Lions put the Dragons to the sword with a dominant 60-10 win at Ellis Park yesterday to swoop into the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup.

The Joburg side had been boosted by the return to fitness of a number of stars for the round-four clash and started like a house on fire with a number of line breaks by their big men earlier on as they moved the ball through the hands.

The Dragons conceded a penalty at the breakdown and flyhalf Sam Francis put the first points on the board. The Dragons failed to capitalise on a penalty of their own when Lions winger Mafura went off his feet. Will Reids effort came off the post. Reid did succeed with another penalty to draw the Dragons level but they were getting mauled in almost every area by the Lions.

Lions skipper Francke Horn made the most of space down the right wing to dot over in the corner after the Dragons defenders had been sucked into the middle. Francis converted to make the score 10-3.

The talented young flyhalf then broke through the Dragons defensive line and threw a dummy pass before dotting over. He was also instrumental in dictating play for the Joburg side alongside the likes of inside centre Marius Jonker who was rightly named player of the match for an industrious, tireless performance around the park, with Morne van den Berg also solid as ever in front of a sparse crowd.