Lions v Dragons | Match Report

Aneurin Owen and Rio Dyer grabbed try braces as gritty Dragons were defeated 42-26 by in-form Fidelity SecureDrive Lions in the altitude of Johannesburg in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

For the second successive game in South Africa, the Men of Gwent produced a display full of commitment and spirit.

They also showed a sharp attacking edge with Owen racing over for two first half scores that saw Dragons go into the break just four points behind.

Moments after the break a sublime score from Rio Dyer threatened a sensational result for the away side.

The Lions – recently crowned the new SA Shield holders and who had only tasted defeat once in the last six league games –came on strong in the final quarter of the game.

However, it was Filo Tiatia’s men who had the final word when Dyer raced in for a deserved try bonus point.

Dragons made seven changes for the clash with hooker Brodie Coghlan bringing up his 50th appearance for the club.

There were also two late changes as Cai Evans and Levi Douglas failed late fitness tests, with the pair replaced by Huw Anderson and Matthew Sreech.

Dragons then sustained another injury inside three minutes with scrum half Niall Armstrong taking a heavy contact and replaced by Rhodri Williams.

Lions dominated early territory and were rewarded when slick handling from the forwards allowed back row Siba Mahashe to bulldoze past tacklers and score.

A superb turnover from Owen gave Dragons a first attacking platform, with O’Brien kicking to the corner. Coghlan and Coleman carried strongly, but Thomas Young was held up over the line.

Anderson and Fine Inisi won quickfire penalties at the breakdown after powerful carries from the Lions to stem the flow.

Then a slick move from the lineout saw Coghlan and Dyer combine to send Inisi into space and his inside ball sent Owen over. O’Brien added the extras for his 500th point for the club.

Playmaker Chris Smith – the leading scorer in the URC - restored the home lead three minutes later with a penalty, after Dragons infringed on the floor.

The game’s first scrum arrived after 20 minutes and earned Lions a penalty and field position.

And the home side struck again after lost away possession inside the 22 saw Lions strike quickly as the ball was fed to centre replacement Richard Kriel who spotted a gap and raced in.

Dragons were causing Lions problems with attack moves from set plays, but spilled ball after a neat exchange from the backs saw another chance lost.

However, when they did click it was another inventive move that paid off as a long ball over the top of the lineout went to Young and he fed Owen on his left shoulder to score his second of the game.

Smith missed a penalty three minutes before the break but made amends moments before the interval, after the visitors were pinged for offside, as Lions took a 18-14 lead to the sheds.

Sublime break from Wainwright at the start of the second half put Dragons up field and he fed Dyer and got the ball back in return before being hauled down. The forwards took the ball on but were just short of a third try.

From the lineout the forwards secured a penalty before O’Brien boomed a spectacular cross field kick that Dyer took in the left corner and dotted down for a stunner. O’Brien added the extras for a 21-18 lead.

The rattled Lions hit back immediately with a flowing move ending with Smith dotting down and converting his own score.

Dragons switched up the front row with half an hour to go but it was Lions who grabbed a fourth and the bonus with Nico Steyn finishing off a series of pick and goes. Dyer was yellow carded after by referee Jenkinson.

Down to 14 men, Lions took advantage and Steyn grabbed a second down the shortside before wing Erich Cronje powered into the corner.

Dragons, though, showed spirit to earn a deserved try bonus when slick hands freed up space for Dyer to race over down the left for his second of the game.