Lions overpower four-try Dragons in Johannesburg

United Rugby Championship

Lions (18) 42

Tries: Mahashe, Kriel, Smith, Steyn 2, Cronje Cons: Smith 3 Pens: Smith 2

Dragons (14) 26

Tries: Owen 2, Dyer 2 Cons: O'Brien 3

Lions boosted their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes by grinding down Dragons in Johannesburg.

The South African side ran in six tries to boost their push for the top eight but did not have things all their own way at Ellis Park, with the visitors claiming a deserved try bonus of their own.

Dragons showed resilience to stay in the fight in the first half to go in 18-14 down thanks to a pair of well-worked tries for centre Aneurin Owen.

They hit the front when Wales wing Rio Dyer scored a cracker soon after the restart before Lions put their foot down at altitude.

However, the Rodney Parade club went level on points with 14th-placed Scarlets in the URC table when Dyer went over for his second to earn a consolation.

Dragons had not been beaten by double digits in the URC since Leinster stretched away in the closing stages of a tight contest at the end of November.

Despite the scoreline, they once again performed with spirit until South African power eventually told in tough conditions.

But worryingly for head coach Filo Tiatia before the trip to Stade Francais in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup, they ended with fly-half Jac Lloyd at scrum-half.

Che Hope is already out for the season and both Niall Armstrong and replacement Rhodri Williams were forced off in South Africa.

Lions led 8-7 after the first quarter with flanker Siba Mahashe's brutal finish and a penalty by fly-half Chris Smith sandwiching an Owen try from a strike play, the centre put over by midfield partner Fine Inisi.

The South Africans led 35-0 against Edinburgh at half-time seven days earlier but found Dragons a tougher nut to crack.

Lions stretched their lead when replacement back Richard Kriel went over from turnover ball only for Owen to respond again, combining with flanker Thomas Young for a second try from a line-out move.

Dragons almost scored a sensational try soon after the restart following a huge burst from their own 22 to the Lions' by Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright only for the hosts to scramble.

However, they got over that disappointment in style when Dyer acrobatically went over from Angus O'Brien's driven kick-pass, with the fly-half then adding a touchline conversion.

The Lions, who go fourth before Ulster's trip to bottom club Zebre, responded impressively with Smith and half-back partner Nico Steyn going over to make it 30-21, with Dyer shown yellow after penalties totted up.

Steyn got his second and wing Erich Cronje finished strongly before slick handling ensured the visitors would not return home empty-handed thanks to Dyer's second.

Lions: Q Horn, A Davids, van Wyk, Mills, Cronje; Smith, Steyn; Kotze, Botha, Schoeman, Oosthuizen, Nothnagel, Mahashe, Venter, F Horn (capt).

Replacements: Brandon, E Davids, Lombard, Delport, Hlekani, du Plessis, Pead, Kriel.

Dragons: Anderson, Rosser, Inisi, Owen, Dyer, O'Brien (co-capt), Armstrong; Martinez, Coghlan, Coleman, Davies, Carter (co-capt), Woodman, Young, Wainwright.

Replacements: Dee, Morris, James, Screech, Keddie, Williams, Lloyd, Paea.

Yellow card: Dyer 56.

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)

Assistants: Hanru van Rooyen & Stephen Geldenhuys (South Africa)

TMO: Andrew Brace (Ireland)