Lions find winning recipe, down Reds at Ellis Park

Johannesburg - Lions winger Courtnall Skosan scored the match-winning try in a 27-20 victory over the Reds on Saturday after an error-riddled Super Rugby round two match at Ellis Park.

As it happened | Lions v Reds

The former Springbok struck on 68 minutes, evading two Australians to dot down after a 21-phase attack.

Lions captain and flyhalf Elton Jantjies converted for a four-point advantage as the lead changed for the fifth time in the match.

Jantjies added a penalty four minutes from time to complete the scoring and give his team their first win after a first round hiding by the Argentine Jaguares last weekend.

It was the second successive loss for the Reds, who fell narrowly to the Brumbies in Canberra last weekend.

The Lions struggled in the lineouts and took a hammering from the visitors at the scrums until the entire front row was changed midway through the second half.

Even when the Reds were reduced to 13 men for five minutes after props Taniela Tupou and Josh Nasser received yellow cards, the lacklustre home team failed to take advantage.

The Lions trailed three times during the opening half on a sodden pitch after torrential overnight rain before a try from flanker Marnus Schoeman gave them a 17-13 half-time lead.

Livewire scrumhalf Tate McDermott put the Brisbane outfit ahead again by diving over between the posts on 62 minutes and fullback Bryce Hegarty converted.

Falling behind again stung the Lions into action and they were rewarded when a patient, multi-phase attack ended with Skosan scoring.

Winger Tyrone Green (two), Schoeman and Skosan scored tries for the Lions and Jantjies kicked two conversions and a penalty from five shots at goal.

Winger Jock Campbell and McDermott were the Reds' try scorers and Hegarty slotted two conversions and two penalties.

The Lions, who are wildly expected to struggle in the 2020 Super Rugby campaign having lost a number of key players - and well as their coach - picked up four points for their victory.

The Reds picked up a single point for losing by seven or fewer points.

In next weekend's Round 3 action, the Lions welcome the Stormers to Ellis Park (Saturday, February 15 at 15:05), while the Reds head to Buenos Aires to take on the Jaguares (Sunday, Jaguares 16 at 01:00 SA time).

Scorers:

Lions

Tries: Tyrone Green (2), Marnus Schoeman, Courtnall Skosan

Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2)

Penalty: Jantjies

Reds

Try: Jock Campbell, Tate McDermott

Conversions: Bryce Hegarty (2)

Penalties: Hegarty (2)

Teams:

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Duncan Matthews, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Dylan Smith

Substitutes: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Ruan Vermaak, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Manny Rass, 23 Shaun Reynolds

Reds

15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Jock Campbell, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Henry Speight, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Liam Wright (captain), 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Alex Mafi, 1 JP Smith

Substitutes: 16 Sean Farrell, 17 Dane Zander, 18 Josh Nasser, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Seru Uru, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Isaac Lucas, 23 Hunter Paisami

First win at home.#LionsPride #LIOvRED pic.twitter.com/F0647VVx8K

— Emirates Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) February 8, 2020