Lions end losing streak with vital URC victory over Connacht

The Lions finally had reason to smile again after a 26-7 win over Irish visitors Connacht in their United Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park yesterday.

The Johannesburg side ended a five-match losing streak, and welcomed back midfield ace Henco van Wyk, who has been stand-out in an up-and-down season that has been more down than up of late.

But even he struggled to spark this match to life.

That honour went to youngster Renzo du Plessis, who scored the opening try of the game in the 13th minute of a match that was a slow burner till very late on.

Flyhalf Kade Wolhuter missed his conversion attempt.

The Lions started the match in steady enough fashion, without being spectacular. It was a cagey affair in the first stanza.

The Lions were coming off an error-strewn few matches and seemed determined to err on the side of caution.

They did manage to keep the error count down, but seemed to sacrifice any sense of adventure to achieve that.

The visitors, for their part, also looked a far cry from the team that almost snatched a late victory against the Stormers last week in a thrilling encounter in Cape Town.

They did not look like the had the firepower or the ambition to break down an organised Lions defence.

Wolhuter extended the home side’s lead with a penalty from in front of the post. He landed another to make the halftime score 11-0.

Another penalty early in second half from Wolhuter made the score 14-0. The game still lacked spark, however.

Du Plessis picked up a yellow card for tripping a Connacht player.

The Irish side thought they had scored from the rolling maul off a lineout, but the try was ruled out for an infringement in the maul.

Lions speedster Edwill van der Merwe also thought he had scored in the 59th minute after a break down the wing.

That try was ruled out for head contact by a Lions player in a tackle in the build-up.

The Lions eventually breached the Connacht line again via a JC Pretorius try after some slick interplay. Wolhuter again missed the conversion attempt to make it 19-0.

Connacht replacement scrumhalf Colm O’Riley was stretched off injured after landing awkwardly in a tackle. 

Connacht set up rolling maul in the 72nd minute, but the Lions defence stood firm until Eoin de Buitlear barged over the whitewash. The conversion was good.

Nico Steyn had the ball knocked out of his hand when it looked for all money like he would score over the Connacht tryline after brilliant work from winger Richard Kriel had set him up.

Van der Merwe was unlucky again when he just failed to hang onto the ball after a kick chase.

The Lions scrummed strongly to win the penalty.

It was a case of third time lucky for Sharks-bound Van der Merwe, who chased down his own kick and dotted down, and Lubabalo Dobela slotted the conversion.

The result kept alive the Lions’ very slim hopes of a place in the playoffs, ending a miserable losing sequence.

Du Plessis was named as the Player of the Match for his industry, energy and strong all-round play.

Points-Scorers

Lions 26 – Tries: Renzo du Plessis, JC Pretorius, Edwill van der Merwe. Conversion: Lubabalo Dobela (1). Penalties: Kade Wolhuter (3).

Connacht 7 – Try: Eoin de Buitlear. Conversion: David Hawkshaw (1).