The Emirates Lions hosted Cardiff at Emirates Airline Park. The Lions managed to gain a healthy early lead on the scoreboard and initially controlled the play however, they had to fend off pressure by Cardiff as the match progressed to beat them 37-20.
The Lions started the match at pace with their forwards dominating the play which set up a good base for the speedsters in the backline to score some well-worked tries which initially gave them a healthy 18 point lead on the scoreboard. Cardiff however managed to break the Lions' momentum towards the end of the first half by playing more rugby in the Lions' territory and forcing them to concede some penalties. They managed to reduce the Lions' lead by scoring a converted try. The Lions started to play the ball wide quickly to their speedsters on the wings at every opportunity however, the Cardiff defence held up. The halftime score was 24-13 in favour of the Lions.
Cardiff started the second half well by scoring an early try and reducing the Lions' scoreboard lead. They enjoyed more possession and territory and forced the Lions to defend in their half. The Lions however managed to absorb the pressure and forced Cardiff to commit errors in their half, from where they kicked two successful penalties to stay in the lead. A yellow card given to Cardiff for an illegal head contact clean on a Lions player at a ruck in minute 62 gave the Lions some breathing space and attacking opportunities. They scored a try at the end of the match to seal a 35-20 victory.
01:42 Lions scrumhalf Morne van den Berg opens the Lions' scoring tally with a try from a driving mall on the Cardiff try line. Converted by Jordan Hendrikse (7-0).
04:50 Penalty given against the Lions in their half. Successfully kicked by Jarrod Evans (7-3).
07:30 Penalty given against Cardiff in their quarter. Successfully kicked by Jordan Hendrikse (10-3).
10:13 Penalty given against the Lions in their half for tackler not rolling away. Successfully kicked by Jarrod Evans (10-6).
13:10 Lions winger Edwill van der Merwe goes over in the corner for a try after the ball was played wide from a ruck in Cardiff's quarter. Converted by Jordan Hendrikse (17-6).
20:00 The Lions are enjoying territorial advantage and their forwards are dominating the play when in Cardiff's half with good driving phase play which resulted in two well-worked converted tries. Cardiff is trying to play running rugby but the Lions' defence is solid.
21:37 Lions winger Edwill van der Merwe scores his second try after a good speedy break down the sideline in Cardiff's half. Converted by Jordan Hendrikse (24-6).
30:32 Cardiff winger Aled Summerhill scores their first try after a good line break in the Lions' quarter easily beating his defender. Converted by Jarrod Evans (24-13).
40:00 Cardiff is managing to break the Lions' momentum and to play more rugby in the Lions' territory, forcing them to commit errors in their quarter from where they scored a well-worked converted try. The Lions are trying to play the ball wide quickly every time to their speedsters on the wings however, the Cardiff defence is holding up.
43:20 Cardiff scores the first try of the second half when James Botham went over the try line after an overlap was created by Cardiff in the Lions' quarter. Converted by Jarrod Evans (24-20).
46:58 Scrum penalty given against Cardiff on the centre line. Successfully kicked by Jordan Hendrikse (27-20).
56:51 Penalty given against Cardiff in their quarter. Successfully kicked by Jordan Hendrikse (30-20).
60:00 Cardiff further reduces the Lions' scoreboard lead by scoring a well-worked try early in the second half and by forcing the Lions into their half with attacking play. The Lions however absorb the pressure and hit back with a successful penalty kick after forcing Cardiff to commit an error in their half.
62:15 Cardiff replacement Kristian Dacey is yellow carded after an illegal head contact clean on a Lions player in a ruck.
80:00 Lions flanker Vincent Tshituka manages to score a try after diving over the line from a ruck. Converted by Jordan Hendrikse (37-20).
Scorers:
Emirates Lions: Tries: Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe (2), Vincent Tshituka. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (4). Penalties: Jordan Hendrikse (3)
Cardiff: Tries: Aled Summerhill, James Botham. Conversions: Jarrod Evans (2). Penalties: Jarrod Evans (2).
Teams:
Emirates Lions: 15. Quan Horn, 14. Stean Pienaar, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Burger Odendaal, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Jordan Hendrikse, 9. Morne van den Berg, 8. Francke Horn, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Jaco Kriel (c), 5. Reinhard Nothnagel, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Sithembiso Sithole. Replacements: 16. PJ Botha, 17. JP Smith, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. Ruan Venter, 20. Emmanuel Tshituka, 21. Nico Steyn, 22. Manuel Rass, 23. Tiaan Swanepoel.
Cardiff: 15. Matthew Morgan, 14. Owen Lane, 13. Rey Lee-Lo, 12. Ben Thomas, 11. Aled Summerhill, 10. Jarrod Evans, 9. Lloyd Williams, 8. James Botham, 7. Will Boyde, 6. Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5. Matthew Screech, 4. Josh Turnbull (c), 3. Dmitri Arhip, 2. Kirby Myhill, 1. Corey Domachowski. Replacements: 16. Kristian Dacey, 17. Brad Thyer, 18. Will Davies-King, 19. Rory Thornton, 20. Ellis Jenkins, 21. Jamie Hill, 22. Max Llewellyn, 23. Hallam Amos.
Article by Francois du Toit