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Bloemfontein - The Lions ended a 23-month winless run when they edged the Cheetahs 25-20 in a Vodacom Super Rugby thriller at Vodacom Park on Saturday.
The Johannesburg-based franchise last celebrated a victory in the southern hemisphere championship by defeating New Zealand visitors the Highlanders in May 2009 at Ellis Park.
Last season the Lions suffered the humiliation of losing all 13 matches, and captain Franco van der Merwe appeared stunned that the losing run was finally over.
"I have forgotten what it feels like to win a Super Rugby match and let us hope this is the first of many victories. We came so close to winning so often and nearly threw this one away a couple of times.
"We give our supporters palpitations sometimes when we run the ball from inside our '22, but we have a game plan and must stick to it," the lock said without betraying any emotion.
The Lions did well not to concede any points while New Zealand-born fullback James Kamana, starting a match for the first time, was in the sin bin for a dangerous tackle midway through the second half.
Cheetahs centre Andries Strauss - the latest captain of the Bloemfontein outfit after injuries have sidelined flank Juan Smith and hooker Adriaan Strauss - cut a dejected figure after a fourth consecutive loss this season.
"It is so frustrating and disappointing. We could have won today but were not clinical enough. There were too many handling errors and this meant having to make more tackles. Our discipline left much to be desired."
A consolation for the losers was the successful return of Springbok flank Heinrich Brussow, who underwent two operations after injuring his left knee against the Hurricanes last March.
'Scavenger' Brussow was his usual busy self in the loose and played a role in several turnovers before coming off eight minutes into the second half as a precaution because he lacks match fitness.
Flyhalves Sias Ebersohn of Cheetahs and Elton Jantjies of Lions kicked five penalties each and the difference was the visitors scored two tries while the home team crossed the line only once.
Former Cheetahs wing Lionel Mapoe and flank Derick Minnie dotted down for the Lions, who led 16-14 at half-time in a match where the lead changed five times, while Strauss was the lone try scorer for the home side.
The Lions remain fourth in the South African Conference, but moved up to 10th in the overall standings.
The winless Cheetahs remain rooted to the bottom of both logs.
In next weekend's Round 5 action, the Lions host the Western Force in Johannesburg, while the Cheetahs begin a four-match tour of Australasia, where they have never won.
Teams:
Cheetahs:
15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Philip Snyman, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Andries Strauss (captain), 11. Ryno Benjamin, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Philip van der Walt, 6. Heinrich Brussow, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4. Martin Muller, 3. WP Nel, 2. Ryno Barnes, 1. Coenie Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. Kobus Calldo, 18. Kabamba Floors, 19. Francois Uys, 20. Tewis de Bruyn, 21. Naas Olivier, 22. Fabian Juries
Lions:
15. James Kamana, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies La Grange, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Rory Kockott, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Josh Strauss, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Patrick Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Kevin Buys, 18. Michael Rhodes, 19. Cobus Grobbelaar, 20. Michael Bondesio, 21. Burton Francis, Jaco Taute
The Johannesburg-based franchise last celebrated a victory in the southern hemisphere championship by defeating New Zealand visitors the Highlanders in May 2009 at Ellis Park.
Last season the Lions suffered the humiliation of losing all 13 matches, and captain Franco van der Merwe appeared stunned that the losing run was finally over.
"I have forgotten what it feels like to win a Super Rugby match and let us hope this is the first of many victories. We came so close to winning so often and nearly threw this one away a couple of times.
"We give our supporters palpitations sometimes when we run the ball from inside our '22, but we have a game plan and must stick to it," the lock said without betraying any emotion.
The Lions did well not to concede any points while New Zealand-born fullback James Kamana, starting a match for the first time, was in the sin bin for a dangerous tackle midway through the second half.
Cheetahs centre Andries Strauss - the latest captain of the Bloemfontein outfit after injuries have sidelined flank Juan Smith and hooker Adriaan Strauss - cut a dejected figure after a fourth consecutive loss this season.
"It is so frustrating and disappointing. We could have won today but were not clinical enough. There were too many handling errors and this meant having to make more tackles. Our discipline left much to be desired."
A consolation for the losers was the successful return of Springbok flank Heinrich Brussow, who underwent two operations after injuring his left knee against the Hurricanes last March.
'Scavenger' Brussow was his usual busy self in the loose and played a role in several turnovers before coming off eight minutes into the second half as a precaution because he lacks match fitness.
Flyhalves Sias Ebersohn of Cheetahs and Elton Jantjies of Lions kicked five penalties each and the difference was the visitors scored two tries while the home team crossed the line only once.
Former Cheetahs wing Lionel Mapoe and flank Derick Minnie dotted down for the Lions, who led 16-14 at half-time in a match where the lead changed five times, while Strauss was the lone try scorer for the home side.
The Lions remain fourth in the South African Conference, but moved up to 10th in the overall standings.
The winless Cheetahs remain rooted to the bottom of both logs.
In next weekend's Round 5 action, the Lions host the Western Force in Johannesburg, while the Cheetahs begin a four-match tour of Australasia, where they have never won.
Teams:
Cheetahs:
15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Philip Snyman, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Andries Strauss (captain), 11. Ryno Benjamin, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Philip van der Walt, 6. Heinrich Brussow, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4. Martin Muller, 3. WP Nel, 2. Ryno Barnes, 1. Coenie Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. Kobus Calldo, 18. Kabamba Floors, 19. Francois Uys, 20. Tewis de Bruyn, 21. Naas Olivier, 22. Fabian Juries
Lions:
15. James Kamana, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies La Grange, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Rory Kockott, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Josh Strauss, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Patrick Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Kevin Buys, 18. Michael Rhodes, 19. Cobus Grobbelaar, 20. Michael Bondesio, 21. Burton Francis, Jaco Taute
