Emmanuel Tshituka crossed twice as the Lions beat Scarlets at Ellis Park on Sunday and climbed into the top half of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship table.
Tshituka and flyer Rabz Maxwane scored in the first half to give the Lions an 18-5 advantage at the break, and after the restart the flanker joined Springbok loose forward Jaco Kriel on the try-scorers list for a 32-15 victory that consigned Scarlets to their fourth straight defeat, and their seventh in nine matches.
In the final match of Round 9, the hosts were quick out the blocks with an early penalty courtesy of flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse before Maxwane and Tshituka cruised over the whitewash to bring an end to the first quarter.
Beautiful link up between Marius Lowe and Rabz Maxwane ?@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvSCA | @LionsRugbyCo pic.twitter.com/fcGttsw5NT
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) December 4, 2022
The Scarlets came back with a well worked maul try from flanker Dan Evans to power back into the game. However, Hendrikse had the last word of the half with a booming three-pointer from halfway.
Kriel marked his return from injury by dotting down under the posts off a beautiful lineout move with the game opening up in the second 40, a development the tourists took advantage of minutes later when the Lions faltered at a defensive lineout at the end of the third quarter and winger Thomas Rogers seized the opportunity to score in the corner.
The Lions secured the bonus point when Tshituka bagged his second try of the afternoon with five minutes remaining, and the visitors grabbing a consolation try before the final whistle.
The result boosts the Lions into fifth place on the standings, into the thick of the playoff race, while Scarlets remain second from the bottom.
The URC pauses for two weeks as the window opens for Champions and Challenge Cup action, with the Lions set to make their Challenge Cup debut against Dragons at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Photo: Getty Images
