Lions vs Dragons

2022 - 12 - 10

Post cover — Image courtesy of "BBC Sport"

Dragons hold on for thrilling draw at Lions (BBC Sport)

Three times the Welsh region led in Johannesburg, the first European cup match to be played in South Africa. Tries from Jordan Williams, Rhodri Williams, Sam ...

"It's a great start to the campaign and we can build on this for the next game against Pau." However it took just eight minutes, a raft of home changes and the finishing of Edwill van der Merwe for the Lions to not only level, but take the lead. Lions lost Springbok prop Ruan Dreyer to an early injury but his replacement Asenathi Ntlabakanye barged over from close range on his debut, only for Dragons to take the lead a third time. Davies and Rhodri Williams were partnered together for the first time on this three-match tour and the pair marshalled Dragons to a surprise 24-17 lead at half-time. However a series of home penalties allowed Dragons to again take the lead as Rhodri Williams scampered over from the back of a ruck after Roberts was stopped just short. He conceded a penalty before a comment to English referee Anthony Woodthorpe saw the Dragons marched back a further 10 metres putting the penalty within range for Hendrikse, only for the long-range kick to fade to the right.

Lions and Dragons draw in Challenge Cup thriller (WalesOnline)

Full-time: Lions 31-31 Dragons RFC ... Jordan Hendrikse misses a penalty from nearly 60 metres out which means Dragons RFC escape with a draw. They'll be disappointed not to win but this was a strong effort from the men of Gwent.

Dragons RFC get a taste of their own medicine. The Lions claim their second try as replacement prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye touches down from short-range after a well-worked driving lineout. The Lions defend their maul well so the Dragons go through the phases. The Dragons made the worst possible start to the second-half with the Lions scoring two tries in five minutes. That's a tremendous defensive set by Dragons RFC. This is the worst possible start to the second-half for the Dragons. They'll be disappointed not to win but this was a strong effort from the men of Gwent. The Dragons pressurised the Lions line with another driving maul before scrum-half Williams broke clear and Davies took advantage of his outrageous offload to score. Rhodri Williams sniped through a gap but was brought down just short of the line before Jack Dixon powered over from short-range. A few minutes later and van der Merwe was celebrating his second touchdown after Jaco Kriel had made the initial burst through the Dragons defence. The Lions hit straight back when replacement prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye touched down from short-range after a well-worked driving lineout. Davies added the extras but the Lions hit straight back when Lombard ghosted over from short range following a period of sustained pressure.

Lions, Dragons play to thrilling high-scoring draw in SA's Challenge ... (News24)

Wing Edwill van der Merwe scored twice as the Lions and Dragons played to a thrilling 31-31 draw in a familiar-looking Challenge Cup contest at Ellis Park ...

Dragons – (24) 31 Conversions: Gianni Lombard (2), Jordan Hendrikse (2) Lions – (17) 31

Lions and Dragons share spoils in thriller (SARugbymag)

Jordan Hendrikse was unable to slot an overtime, 56-metre penalty as the Lions had to settle for a draw on Challenge Cup debut against a spirited Dragons ...

Hendrikse had the chance to snatch victory for the hosts when the Lions were awarded a penalty inside their own half with the siren sounding in the background, but failed to convert as the Dragons kicked the ball into touch for a 31-31 draw. Making their bow in the tournament, the Lions were out to secure a winning start for the South African sides but a relentless Dragons effort ensured there was nothing to separate the teams as the tie finished 31-31. Jordan Hendrikse was unable to slot an overtime, 56-metre penalty and the Lions had to settle for a draw on Challenge Cup debut against a spirited Dragons outfit in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.

Dragons roar in SA: Welsh strugglers draw with Lions (RugbyPass)

The Lions and the Dragons played out a thrilling 31-31 draw in a Challenge Cup opener in Johannesburg on Saturday.

[Jaco Kriel](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jaco-kriel/) rolled back the years with several powerful runs. Dragons No.8 [Ross Moriarty](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ross-moriarty/) tested the Lions’ defence with several powerful carries as well. – foul play, tripping an opponent) [Jaco Visagie](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jaco-visagie/), 17 [Jean-Pierre Smith](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jean-pierre-smith/), 18 [Asenathi Ntlabakanye](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/asenathi-ntlabakanye/), 19 [Ruan Venter](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ruan-venter/), 20 [Sibusiso Sangweni](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/sibusiso-sangweni/), 21 [Sanele Nohamba](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/sanele-nohamba/), 22 [Jordan Hendrikse](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jordan-hendrikse/), 23 Rynhardt Jonker. [Rob Evans](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/rob-evans/), 18 [Lloyd Fairbrother](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/lloyd-fairbrother/), 19 [Aaron Wainwright](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/aaron-wainwright/), 20 Ben Fry, 21 [Lewis Jones](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/lewis-jones/), 22 [Will Reed](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/will-reed/), 23 Steff Hughes. [Jordan Williams](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jordan-williams/), 14 [Jared Rosser](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jared-rosser/), 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 [Jack Dixon](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jack-dixon/), 11 [Ashton Hewitt](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ashton-hewitt/), 10 [Sam Davies](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/sam-davies/), 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 [Ross Moriarty](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ross-moriarty/), 7 [Harrison Keddie](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/harrison-keddie/) (captain), 6 [Matthew Screech](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/matthew-screech/), 5 [Ben Carter](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ben-carter/), 4 [Joe Davies](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/joe-davies/), 3 [Chris Coleman](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/chris-coleman/), 2 [Bradley Roberts](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/bradley-roberts/), 1 Rhodri Jones. [Jean-Pierre Smith](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jean-pierre-smith/) (Lions, 65? [Asenathi Ntlabakanye](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/asenathi-ntlabakanye/) and [Gianni Lombard](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/gianni-lombard/), the latter adding a further eight points from the tee. [Rhodri Williams](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/rhodri-williams/), [Sam Davies](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/sam-davies/) and [Jack Dixon](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jack-dixon/) went over for Dragons, Davies’ boot contributing an additional 11 points. [Jordan Williams](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jordan-williams/) crashed over in the corner for Dragons before Lombard hit back for Lions with an opportunistic score. [Rhodri Williams](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/rhodri-williams/) dotted down in response for the Welsh region after a sniping break from close range. [Jordan Hendrikse](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jordan-hendrikse/) had an opportunity to win the game with a long-range penalty.

Lions, Dragons share spoils | SuperSport (SuperSport)

Emirates Lions replacement flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse missed a 60-metre match-winning penalty at the death, forcing the Johannesburg team to share the points ...

Lacklustre Lions settle for draw with Dragons on EPCR Challenge ... (Independent Online)

Johannesburg - A thoroughly middling performance in the first half from the Lions, saw the hosts escape with a draw in their EPCR Challenge Cup debut at ...

He looked on dejected, while the Dragons will leave South Africa content with the three points they collected here. That seemed to wake up the Lions from their befuddlement for a moment as they struck back immediately through a mixture of forwards and backs interplay play, Gianni Lombard juggling the ball as he dotted down over the whitewash. Nevertheless, Hendrikse’s booming boot brought an important dimension to the game as he could drive the Dragons back territorially, something Lombard could not do. It was a lead-footed performance, with the Dragons looking decidedly more focussed. Edwill van der Merwe was the happy recipient on both occasions within a 10-minute period. The Lions should never have allowed the Dragons to rack up 24 points during the first 40.