14-man Lions too good for Dragons

By HAMISH

Lions……………… 49pts

Tries: van Wyck 11, Horn 28, 70; van der Merwe 43, 77; van der Berg 57

Conversions: Nohamba 29, 44, 53, 58, 78

Dragons………… 24pts

Penalties: Nohamba 22, 33, 49

Tries: Keddie 5, Hewitt 48, Roberts 66

Conversions: Reed 6, 49, 68

Penalties: Reed 40

THE Lions overcame playing two thirds of this game with 14 men, while the Dragons bounced back with some pride after last week's record defeat in South Africa.

The Lions were overwhelming favourites and the early minutes seemed to follow the script perfectly, a penalty brought pressure which in turn brought a yellow card for Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams as he deliberately knocked on to stop an inside pass from left wing Edwill van der Merwe.

The Lions went for the corner, however the Dragons held out the initial drive, then stopped the runners on the gain line and centre Aneurin Owen managed to charge down an attempted cross kick by outside-half Saneli Nohamba.

Owen broke clear, No.8 Aaron Wainwright injected pace and as the Dragons kept the ball alive it was flanker Harrison Keddie who squeezed over for the try, converted by Will Reed.

While the Dragons maul drive that travelled continued to defy expectations by attacking strongly, the roles were reversed when prop JP Smith charged down, offloaded to centre Henco van Wyck who went 80 yards for the try.

Once again it was a charge down which led to the next key play, but in a very different way. Lions second row Ruben Schoeman launched himself into the air when Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt kicked forward on 25 minutes.

Crucially the lock brought his arm down while in the air and his elbow made contact with Hewitt's head. It was a little unlucky, but referee Andrea Piardi had no doubt in dismissing Schoeman. Hewitt went off for an HIA which he eventually passed.

The record of scores coming against the run of play continued, the Then came the game's the wire.

Dragons attacking but losing the ball over the line, allowing the Lions to counter attack first through wing Richard Kriel almost to halfway with full-back Quan Horn having the pace to go the rest of the way.

Discipline was a problem for the Dragons, made worse when hooker Bradley Roberts was the second player yellow carded for a stupid trip.

The Lions immediately added a third try, finished by van der Merwe after opposite number Rio Dyer failed to deal with a high kick.

Hewitt started and finished a well worked team try as the Dragons hit back to stay within reach, until Kriel created the bonus point try for scrum half Morne van der Berg. Roberts, from a lineout drive, Frankie Horn and van der Merwe added gloss to their sides' scores in the dying minutes.