Horn stars as Lions feast on Stade Francais

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Lions winger Quan Horn scored a brace as the Lions won a frenetic showdown against Stade Francais at Ellis Park on Friday night to clinch their maiden Challenge Cup victory.

A bonus-point win was crucial for the Lions who made their competition bow against Dragons last week in a 31-31 draw, and Horn’s first-half double was matched with tries from Springbok fullback Andries Coetzee and replacement prop Ruan Smith for a full haul of log points.

The hosts took an early lead and never allowed their Top 14 opponents to settle in a helter-skelter contest that ended in a 30-12 victory for the Lions.

Jordan Hendrikse used his boot to devastating affect on the Highveld as the Lions controlled the field, eventually leading to a penalty right in front of the sticks for the flyhalf to convert. Moments later, a Hendrikse skip pass set up Horn for a spectacular try in the corner.

Though they tried, perhaps foolishly, to match the Lions’ tempo, Stade Francais’ ill-discipline allowed Hendrikse to keep the scoreboard ticking with another penalty at the end of the first quarter. The Lions were not afraid to play with ball in hand and the backline sprang to life with Horn crossing again from a clinical, long-range counter-attack.

The visitors would have the last say in the half as scrumhalf and Kearsney old boy James Hall crashed over the line after a lengthy period of attack to make it 20-5 at the break.

The second half was a scrappy tussle as the game opened up and both teams mixed errors with exciting running rugby.

The Lions had all but secured the win when Coetzee dotted down from a well-worked backline move as the altitude began to take its toll on the French outfit.

The visitors were finally rewarded for their efforts when flyhalf Leo Barre scored off the hard work of the French pack, but Smith then replied to clinch the bonus point in the dying minutes as they wrapped up the win.

The Lions now turn their attention back to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and a looming trip to Durban to take on the Sharks.

Photo: Getty Images

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Juandre Joubert