Lions Fall Short Against Edinburgh In Challenge Cup Knockout

For a second weekend in a row in Scotland, the Lions were their own worst enemies with some shaky defending, not protecting their ball possession at the breakdown and getting off to a slow start in their Challenge Cup knockout against Edinburgh.

An early try that caught the visitors napping and a converted try nine minutes before the final whistle were the nail in the coffin of the Johannesburg side as their hosts claimed a 24-12 victory to go through to the quarter-finals.

While the Lions showed plenty of fight in the second half as they looked to get their game going, the damage was already done in the first half as Edinburgh surged to a quickfire lead in the opening stanza.

The home side scored two tries in the first 10 minutes through fullback Wes Goosen and scrumhalf Ben Vellacott. They used their forwards well to get the ball going forward before the backs took the opportunities that came their way. A third try was added to the tally when Lions fullback Quan Horn received a yellow card trying to make a turnover on his try line, but the referee adjudicated him to have not clearly released the tackled player.

That 17-0 lead is the one Edinburgh took into halftime with the attack of the visitors not making any headway but rather just going from side to side without any impetus.