Lions rake in a narrow win over the Rebels

Lions narrowly beat the Rebels.

THE WINNING POINTS: Emirates Lions replacement fly half Gianni Lombard slotted the winning penalty after the siren had sounded. Madosh Tambwe congratulates Gianni Lombard of the Emirates Lions after his winning kick during the Super Rugby match between Emirates Lions and Rebels. Photo: Gordon Arons

Emirates Lions will want to put behind them the first half of Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Rebels. They trailed 5-26 at that stage.

The match was played on March 16 at Emirates Airlines Park in front of their home crowd.

Scoring minutes after the match started to lead by 5-0, the Lions then lost track and let the dangerous and in-form team from Australia to control the match throughout the first half.

The Lions are known for not giving away wins to teams from abroad at home, but trailing with such a big margin it soon became evident that this will be a first on Saturday.

The local side made far too many mistakes in the first half. Their defensive line was broken four times in the opening stanza, allowing the Melbourne outfit to build a solid 26-5 half-time lead.

MARCHING ON: Emirates Lions flank Kwagga Smith getting through the Rebels tackle during the Super Rugby match between Emirates Lions and Rebels. Photo: Gordon Arons

Malcolm Marx, hooker and captain, who resides in Alberton, scored the home team’s only try in the first half, but they fell further behind just two minutes after the restart when Rebels outside centre, Tom English, easily went over for the visitors’ fifth try of the afternoon.

After the break the introduction of a host of replacements off the bench, especially experienced fullback Andries Coetzee, sparked some much needed urgency in the home side. The Rebels’ composure also fell apart and they conceded far too many penalties and committed a heap of errors, allowing the red-and-white jerseys to cash in on their try account.

Marnus Schoeman (flank), Coetzee, Lionel Mapoe (centre) and Courtnall Skosan (wing) each scored a try, while Elton Jantjies added the extras with his conversions.

It was the home side who finally settled this error-strewn encounter in their favour when replacement fly half Gianni Lombard slotted the winning penalty after the siren had sounded to complete an improbable but thrilling comeback win.

LED FROM THE FRONT: Malcolm Marx, hooker and captain, who resides in Alberton, scored the home team’s only try in the first half, during the Super Rugby match between Emirates Lions and Rebels at Emirates Airline Park on March 16. Photo: Gordon Arons

The Emirates Lions now travel to the Far East to play Japanese side the Sunwolves in their next game.

Meanwhile, the only other South African team in action, the DHL Stormers, powered their way to an impressive 35-8 win over the Jaguares on Friday evening in Cape Town.