Lions roar into Challenge Cup knockouts with dominant win over Dragons

By SABC Sport
18th January 2025

The Lions are through to the knockout rounds of the Challenge Cup after making light work of the Dragons in a 60-10 victory at Ellis Park.

The Gauteng outfit welcomed back some key figures for this must-win European clash, including center Henco van Wyk and flanker Ruan Venter, and proved far too strong for their Welsh opponents on the day.

The Dragons would have gone through at the Lions' expense had they managed to win this contest, but it was never to be, as the home side outscored their opponents nine tries to one.

The two teams exchanged penalties in the opening stages of the match, but it was all downhill for the Dragons from there.

Captain Francke Horn opened the Lions' try-scoring account in the ninth minute after a lofted skip pass unlocked the Dragons' defence, before flyhalf Sam Francis added their second shortly after.

Bok star Venter marked his return to action with a spectacular 40m charge to score try number three, and fans didn't have to wait long before winger Tapiwa Mafura rounded off a great team effort to make it 31-3 to the hosts at half-time.

The carnage continued after the break as Ivan van Rooyen's men scored five more tries, only briefly interrupted when Tongan prop Paula Latu provided the Dragons' only highlight on the day.

Horn and Venter both got back on the scoresheet for the hosts along with further scores from substitutes Jaco Visagie, Gianni Lombard and Manuel Rass as the Lions booked their place in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup in decisive fashion.