Benetton end Lions’ winning streak with dramatic late turnaround in Challenge Cup clash

Italian visitors Benetton brought the Lions’ recent winning streak to a screeching halt with a 26-18 victory in the opening round of the Challenge Cup at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon.

Benetton looked well-organised defensively in a cagey opening five minutes, and Ryno Smith opened the scoring for the visitors. The teams then traded penalties, with flyhalf Chris Smith on target for the Lions in the ninth minute and Jacob Umaga replying for Benetton three minutes later, as they led 8-3.

The Lions were struggling to impose their game on Benetton and showed little of the intensity from last weekend’s win against the Bulls. A forward pack that had fronted up to their neighbours’ vaunted forwards also struggled to make headway in the set-pieces, though returning Bok prop Asenathi Ntbalakanye looked lively, making a few bustling runs in broken play.

Errors crept into both teams’ play in an increasingly scrappy, low-scoring first stanza, with no further addition to the score after more than 30 minutes.

Lions winger Kelly Mpeku finally gave the home side something to cheer with a try in the 37th minute, aided by a huge slice of luck – a neat grubber from fullback Quan Horn bouncing kindly for the flyer. Smith landed the conversion to send the Lions into the break up 10-8.

The Lions built scrum pressure early in the second half, and loose forward Ruan Venter barged over the try line to extend their lead to 15-8. The usually trusty Smith was having an off day with the boot, however, a failed conversion attempt adding to a penalty miss in the first half.

The home side were starting to make more metres with the carry, No 6 Jarrod Cairns prominent, but the end product was still sorely lacking more than 10 minutes into the second half.

The luck had not deserted the Joburg side, however, with a Smith penalty kick striking the upright and creeping in to leave the Lions 10 points clear at 18-8. Replacement Tomas Albornoz then replied with the boot for Benetton.

Mpeku had done well to earn the penalty after a strong chase of a monster Smith up-and-under, and was having a great game, but it was spoiled by a late yellow card for an intentional knockdown that the visitors capitalised on. A quickfire brace by Benetton centre Leonardo Marin in the closing minutes gave his side the lead, while an Albornoz drop-goal put the icing on the cake for the side from Treviso.

Scorers

Lions –  Tries: Kelly Mpeku, Ruan Venter. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalties: Smith (2).

Benetton – Tries: Rhyno Smith, Leonardo Marin (2). Conversion: Tomas Albornoz. Penalties: Jacob Umaga, Albornoz. Drop goal: Albornoz