Lions end home run in URC on a high note with victory over gallant Benetton

Call it celebrating mediocrity, but the Lions' 37-29 triumph over Benetton at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon should be regarded as one of the minor miracles of the inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign.

A record of 7 wins from 15 starts - the men from Doornfontein conclude their season against the Dragons in Newport on May 22 - doesn't exactly make for compelling reading though its a haul that should be taken into perspective.

In the 24 years they played Super Rugby (including the cursed Cats jersey), they only managed 7 or more victories in 8 of those seasons.

Saddled with a new coaching group that barely had a month to prepare for a European campaign and boasting a talented squad that lacks proven top-class players, the Lions shouldn't be too despondent.

This performance, however, was a microcosm of their adventure this year.

By all accounts, Ivan van Rooyen's charges are a team capable of producing attacking, effective rugby; harness a generally strong scrum well; and defend well when they are switched on.

Those moments are interspersed by a sometimes complete lack of accuracy at the breakdowns and an alarming penchant for switching off and lacking discipline.

In other words, they're some way off from being a coherent package, let alone a complete one.

The Lions had started so well in the first quarter, monopolising possession and putting their opponents under severe pressure.

They had an opening try from lock Ruben Schoeman - dotting down from a maul - and a penalty from the prone pivot Jordan Hendrikse to show for that dominance, before going to sleep completely.

Hendrikse was shown a yellow card for making a tackle from an off-side position when former Cheetahs hero Rhyno Smith cleverly took a 5m tap and