Unbeaten Lions edge Zebre
10/19/2024 08:45 AM
The Lions improved to 4-0 on the season with a hard-fought victory over Zebre in rain-drenched Parma on Saturday.
Winger Edwill van der Merwe scored the only try of the match as the Lions held on in terrible conditions to seal a 10-9 win.
The adverse conditions made it hazardous to keep the ball, and mounting handling errors forced both teams into a set-piece battle with a total of 20 scrums set and 31 lineouts thrown throughout the contest.
In the first half the Lions took some time to acclimatise with Zebre flyhalf Giovani Montemauri kicking two penalty goals in the first quarter to give the hosts a 6-0 lead.
The Lions eventually found their feet near the half-hour mark when flyer Van der Merwe finished a nothing opportunity in the corner under pressure from multiple Zebre defenders. Lions flyhalf Sanele Nohamba slotted his conversion in the corner with ease, taking the visitors into half-time 7-6 ahead.
The second half was a stalemate, Nohamba struck from the tee three minutes after the restart with Monetmauri matching him four minutes later.
The final 33 minutes remained scoreless as both teams fought for field possession, neither of them breaking through to find the scoreboard as the Lions held on to secure the win.
In round 6, Zebre take on the Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday, while the Lions’ unbeaten record will be tested the next day when they face Leinster in Dublin.
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