Cardiff hold on for crucial win against wasteful Lions

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MATCH REPORT: Cardiff scored a crucial 20-17 win over a wasteful Lions team in their United Rugby Championship outing on Friday.

On the wet and slippery Arms Park surface, the Lions' decision-making (options) was shocking at times, allowing the hosts to stay in the contest despite the Lions having 75 percent of the first-half possession.

It did not improve much after the break, as the visitors' error count mounted at an alarming rate.

As has often been the case this season, centre Marius Louw was the biggest culprit, including two shocking intercept passes, one of which resulted in the match-winning Harri Millard try.

The Lions also did not get the expected dominance in the set pieces.

The result ensured Cardiff cemented their place in the top eight with five rounds remaining, while the Lions clung - for at least 24 hours) to a play-off spot with the losing bonus point.

* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!

* Article continues below ...

It was a nervy start by both teams, exchanging early penalties at the breakdown.

It was the Lions who settled down quickest, with prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye opening the visitors' account with a try - coming after a series of forward raids. Gianni Lombard added the conversion - 7-0 after 12 minutes.

Cardiff hit back with a try by flank Ben Donnell - set up by a penalty and a line-out play that had forwards running at gaps in the Lions' defence. Callum Sheedy levelled the scores (seven-all) with the conversion.

Another breakdown penalty saw Sheedy, from close on 50 metres out, give the home team the lead just past the half-hour mark.

On the break of half-time, Lions scrumhalf Nico Steyn thought he had scored his team's second try. However, the TMO found a forward pass - leaving the home team to take that three-point lead into the break.

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The second half started another silly penalty turnover by the Lions, but the visitors won the subsequent kicking duel.

Another breakdown penalty saw Lombard, from 45 metres out, level the scores - 10-all.

Cardiff started to clear their bench at the 45-minute mark, with another silly Lions breakdown penalty giving the home team an easy exit.

Sheedy reclaimed the lead after the Lions were made to pay for their escalating error rate - 13-10, after 50 minutes.

The game turned into a kicking contest, as both teams opted for territory rather than possession.

It was captain Francke Horn who finally put the visitors back in the lead - finishing a series of forward raids inside the Cardiff 22. Lombard made it 17-13, with 20 minutes remaining.

Cardiff replied with a Harri Millard try - a gift of a pass by Marius Louw, who has been guilty of numerous turnovers and penalties. Sheedy made it 20-17, with 15 minutes remaining.

The Lions continued to concede turnover inside the Cardiff half at an alarming rate and they were made to pay when flyhalf Gianni Lombard was yellow-carded for cynically slapping the ball down.

The Lions now threw everything in attack, but two TMO interventions took the game to a five-metre scrum in favour of the visitors.

However, the Lions were held up over the line, as the home team held on for a valuable win - 20-17.

(Continue below ...)

Man of the match: The Lions' most productive players were flanks Ruan Venter and JC Pretorius. Wing Harri Millard, apart from scoring the match-winning try, made over 100 metres with the ball in hand. Alun Lawrence (an astonishing 30 tackles), Rory Jennings (22) and Josh McNally (21) put their bodies on the line on defence. Our award goes to Cardiff captain and hooker Liam Belcher - who was right up there in the tackle and carry stats in an inspiring performance.

The scorers

For Cardiff
Tries: Donnell, Millard
Cons: Sheedy 2
Pens: Sheedy 2

For the Lions
Tries: Ntlabakanye, Horn
Cons: Lombard 2
Pen: Lombard

Yellow card: Gianni Lombard (Lions, 74 - cynical foul, deliberate knock-on)

Teams:

Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Harri Millard, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Alex Mann, 6 Ben Donnell, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Rhys Litterick, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Danny Southworth.
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 James Botham, 21 Thomas Young, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Tinus de Beer.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Jarod Cairns, 23 Henco van Wyk.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Aaron Parry (Wales)
TMO: Stefano Roscini Italy)

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