Lions' strong start ensures EPCR playoff spot

It was chilly afternoon at the CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynachon, with the team from Johannesburg starting strongly to lead by 27-5 at the break.

Following consultation between Dragons RFC and EPCR, the decision was taken to change the venue due to the unsafe state of the Rodney Parade playing surface.

Despite scoring four tries to two and keeping the Emirates Lions pinned in their own half for most of the game, the Welsh hosts conceded too many kickable penalties, which Hendrikse turned into points to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Hendrikse kicked the first of his six penalty goals in the second minute, and followed that up with four more successful attempts in the first half; while his solitary three-pointer in the second half was the visitors' only points after the break, when the Dragon started their fightback.

Quan Horn and Edwill van der Merwe scored tries in quick succession in the first quarter as the Emirates Lions led by 18-5 after 20 minutes, which they stretched to 27-5 at the break as Hendrikse added three more penalty goals.

However, the Dragons ignited in the second half, adding three more tries to their tally as they pushed hard for a strong finish which also booked their place in the playoffs, but they simply didn't have enough time to overhaul the visitors from Johannesburg.

Scorers:

Dragons 25 (5) - Tries: Will Reed, Aki Seiuli, Jordan Williams, Rio Dyer. Conversion: Reed. Penalty goal: JJ Hanrahan.

Emirates Lions 30 (27) - Tries: Quan Horn, Edwill van der Merwe. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse. Penalty goals: Hendrikse (6).