Five-minute lapse costs Lions in bitter Challenge Cup defeat to Newcastle

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen says his players are devastated not to have come away with a win in Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup round two match against Newcastle Red Bulls, pointing to a five-minute spell before half-time that could have swung the contest their way.

Despite dominating territory, possession and the set piece for long periods at a bitterly cold, wind-lashed Kingston Stadium, the visitors were unable to score during a critical late first-half passage. Newcastle weathered the storm before landing a late knockout blow to clinch a 14–10 victory in the low-scoring encounter.

“Obviously, conditions were tough — really, really windy — something we’re not used to. Even then, we created enough opportunities to get the result,” Van Rooyen said at the post-match media conference.

“I think our set piece was dominant. At stages we played really good rugby and had good defensive sets.

"I just think the last five to six minutes of the first half we didn’t really capitalise when we had all the possession in their 22. Against the wind you know you’re going to spend a lot of time in the back 40 of the field, and unfortunately we let it slip with a minute-and-a-half to go.”

Van Rooyen admitted the conditions in the second half made it harder for his side to impose themselves on the home team.

“The wind played a role. In the first half we managed to get 10 metres out, five metres out. In the second half we barely got there. If you make an error, they kick it downfield with the wind,” he said.

“In the last five minutes of the first half we were there — at some stages over the try line — and one score there and I think the game would have been totally different.”

With back-to-back defeats in the pool, the Lions now face a daunting route to the Challenge Cup playoffs, needing a near-perfect return from their remaining two fixtures — a home clash against Lyon and a difficult away trip to Perpignan.

“We’re probably going to need nine points out of the last two games. A home win is essential and then see if we can get an away win against Perpignan,” Van Rooyen said.

“Next week is back to the URC against the Stormers, then we have a week off and another URC game. Then it’s the two EPCR games.

“The team is devastated because they felt we were good enough to get the result. So in terms of this competition, there are some really important games for us to see how we can get into the playoffs.”

Saturday’s eagerly anticipated URC clash against log-leading Stormers will take place at Cape Town Stadium, with kick-off at 3.30pm.