Lions claw their way back to edge Edinburgh

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The Lions fought back from a half-time deficit to secure a hard-earned victory over Edinburgh at Ellis Park on Saturday evening in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Tries for Jordan Hendrikse and Vincent Tshituka either side of the break helped Ivan van Rooyen’s men earn their fourth successive win in the URC, in as many matches at home.

Emiliano Boffelli went over the whitewash for the visitors after half time, following some individual brilliance from Blair Kinghorn, but the try was disallowed on a TMO review.

Magnus Bradbury then saw yellow for a cynical tackle and the Lions made their numerical advantage count – Tshituka crashing over after a powerful driving maul, with Hendrikse adding the extras to put the hosts in front for the first time in the match. 

Boffelli split the uprights to pull Edinburgh back within three points, but Hendrikse slotted one of his own to restore the home side’s four-point cushion and, ultimately, a 15-9 triumph.

A well-struck drop goal from just over the halfway line by SA-born Henry Immelman for Edinburgh opened the scoring after an uninspiring start to the encounter.

Hendrikse had a chance to restore parity for the Lions with a penalty from the middle of the park, but the flyhalf pushed his attempt wide.

Boffelli made it 6-0 for the visitors from the kicking tee, but the hosts hit back to make it a one-point game at the interval when Hendrikse dotted down after Morne van den Berg brilliantly exposed the visitors’ blind side.

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Devin Hermanus