Lions show their claws
RUNAWAY WIN: AN INCREDIBLE SECOND-HALF DISPLAY SHUTS OUT OSPREYS
Home side scored a number of superb long-range tries to out-score visitors by seven tries to two.
The Lions produced an incredible second half display as they powered to a brilliant 45-15 (halftime 14-3) win over Ospreys in their United Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park last night.
The home side scored a number of brilliant long-range tries over the match and after a scrappy first half, turned it on in the second with some superb broken play to out-score the visitors by seven tries to two in the end.
After an even start to the match, that included flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse missing an easy penalty, the Lions then got on the board in the 13th minute.
They attacked from a Ospreys 22m drop out, skipper Burger Odendaal made the break, popped the ball to scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, who found wing Rabz Maxwane, who stepped a defender and sprinted away to score, with Hendrikse finding his range for a 7-0 lead.
A barren run of play then ended in the 31st minute as Ospreys got on the board through a penalty to flyhalf Josh Thomas after a penalty at the breakdown on the 22.
The Lions however finished the half strong as another attack started from their own half saw Odendaal with the initial break, off-loading to Van den Berg, to go over under the sticks for a converted try to lead 14-3 at halftime.
If the first half was scrappy then the second was a try fest as the Lions ran in five tries against two to the Ospreys.
First Reinhard Nothnagel crashed over from short range for a converted score after 43 minutes, before Ospreys scrummy Rhys Webb sniped over from close range for their own converted score, making itt 21-10 after 51 minutes.
Van den Berg then went over for his second in the 55th minute after a break from outside centre Wandisile Simelane, while Ospreys hit back with an intercept try to outside centre Michael Collins in the 65th.
In the final 11 minutes the Lions piled on the misery as replacement centre Manie Rass, wing Edwill van der Merwe and Andre Warner rounded off a good night for the Lions.