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A poor first half showing from the Lions led to them being knocked out of the Challenge Cup with a 24-12 loss to Edinburgh in their last 16 match.
Edinburgh wing Darcy Graham is wrapped up by Lions defenders during their Challenge Cup last 16 clash at the Hive Stadium in Scotland on Friday night. Picture: Euan Cherry/Getty Images
It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance from the Lions as a dismal first half effort cost them dearly as they fell to a disappointing 24-12 defeat to Edinburgh in their Challenge Cup last 16 clash at the Hive Stadium in Scotland on Friday night.
The Lions were abject in the first 40, with them shredded on defence, one dimensional and ineffectual on attack, and dominated at the break down, which allowed the hosts to run in three unanswered tries for comfortable lead at the break.
But someone must have brought the hairdryer out at halftime, because it was a transformed performance in the second 40, with them dominating most aspects of play, but mistakes at vital moments cost them a chance of fighting back for a win, as they were knocked out of the competition in the end.
It was a disastrous start to the match for the Lions as Edinburgh struck in just the second minute, attacking from a lineout just in their own half, with the ball slung down the line, as they broke into the 22m, and fullback Wes Goosen received the last pass to go over for the try.
In the ninth minute Edinburgh were in for their second, this time counterattacking after stealing the ball, with Goosen making a good break and scrumhalf Ben Vellacott finishing things off as the hosts took an early 10-0 lead.
It was all Edinburgh and they were almost in for a third, only for them to be thwarted by a superb try saving tackle by Quan Horn, but the Lions fullback was then yellow carded for not releasing as he tried to steal the ball, although it did seem like he gave some daylight.
The hosts were finally in for their third in the 28th minute as wing Darcy Graham and flank Hamish Watson made superb metres in an attack, getting close for flank Jamie Richie to power over for the score, with flyhalf Ross Thompson nailing his first conversion for a 17-0 lead which they took into the halftime break.
The Lions desperately needed to score first in the second half and that they did after a solid start, with play in the Edinburgh 22m that saw lock Grant Gilchrist receive a yellow card for a professional foul.
That allowed them to kick to the corner again and power a maul over for captain Francke Horn to dot down, with flyhalf Gianni Lombard missing the extras to make it 17-5 after 46 minutes.
The Lions then dominated most of the next 25 minutes, but mistakes at key moments kept stopping their progress as time ticked down.
That saw Edinburgh hit them with a sucker punch in the 72nd minute as they kicked into the Lions territory and attacked from a lineout.
The ball then went through the hands where a delayed pass from Thompson to outside centre Matt Currie saw him break into the 22m and offload to replacement scrumhalf Ali Price for the converted score and 24-5 lead.
The Lions did have the final say in the 75th minute, as they attacked into the Edinburgh 22m, got close and replacement hooker Jaco Visage showed great strength to power over and dot down, with replacement flyhalf Nico Steyn converting, but it was too little too late.
Edinburgh: Tries – Wes Goosen, Ben Vellacott, Jamie Richie, Ali Price; Conversions – Ross Thompson (2)
Lions: Tries – Francke Horn, Jaco Visagie; Conversion – Nico Steyn
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