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Lions extend winning run as Connacht deal Ospreys play-off blow
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Lions extended their winning streak to four straight URC games as they ran in six tries to beat Dragons 42-26 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
The Lions – on course for a place in the top eight – made a fast start with an early try through flanker Siba Mahashe, but Aneurin Owen soon went over after a break from Fine Inisi off a line-out, with Angus O’Brien converting to put the Welsh province in front.
Chris Smith kicked a penalty before Richard Kreil’s clever dummy sent him under the posts in the 26th minute, only for Dragons to respond again as Owen ran in his second try after a neat exchange with Thomas Young.
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Smith then missed what had looked a routine penalty attempt before slotting another opportunity in front of the posts to give Lions an 18-14 lead at half-time.
Dragons, in search of a first URC win in South Africa, were back in front soon after the restart when Rio Dyer collected a kick from O’Brien. It was, though, short-lived as fly-half Smith darted over to restore Lions’ four-point advantage before Dyer received a yellow card in the 55th minute for repeated infringements.
Lions swiftly secured a bonus-point try when Nico Steyn got away. Any hopes of a comeback were ended after scrum-half Steyn went over again down the blindside before Erich Cronje added another try. Dyer finished off a fine passing move to score a consolation for Dragons with 10 minutes left.
Meanwhile, scrum-half Matthew Devine’s late try lifted Connacht to a 21-14 victory and dealt a massive blow to Ospreys’ play-off hopes.
Shamus Hurley-Langton was responsible for the Irish side’s other two tries, all three converted by Sean Naughton at Dexcom Stadium.
Hurley-Langton opened the scoring in the 11th minute, but it was all square at half-time after Ospreys right-wing Daniel Kasende touched down in the 23rd minute and Dan Edwards added the extras.
Connacht flanker Hurley-Langton completed his brace, five minutes after the break, but Darragh Murray was sent to the sin bin three minutes later and Ospreys took advantage as Luke Morgan touched down, with Edwards again converting to make it 14-14.
Ospreys were left short-handed when Jac Morgan was shown the yellow card in the 72nd minute, while Naughton missed a penalty.
Devine ensured the hosts would not be left to rue the missed opportunity when he crossed the whitewash with six minutes remaining.
