Lions hang on to win thriller against Dragons, secure home advantage for Challenge Cup playoffs

The Lions delivered a dominant first-half performance to land their first win since mid-December as they beat Dragons 30-25 in a European Challenge Cup clash in Ystrad Mynach on Sunday. 

Flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse was superb off the kicking tee, slotting 6 penalties and a total of 20 points as the men from Johannesburg secured 3rd place in Pool B and home advantage for their last 16 encounter against France's Racing 92, who drop down from the Champions Cup to the Challenge Cup.

FT | Dragons 30-25 Lions  

Coach Ivan van Rooyen's charges were scheduled to play at Rodney Parade on Sunday afternoon, but a late change due to the turf being frozen saw the contest moved to the CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, approximately 25km away.

Given that the Lions had lost their last four matches, and two on what is a month-long European tour, few would have given them a chance in this one. 

Instead, they were dominant in nearly all facets of play in the first half, capitalising on ill-discipline from the hosts.

Despite having opened up a 30-5 lead, however, the Lions let things slip somewhat in the second period, and a stunning Dragons comeback made for an incredibly tense finish. The game ended with Dragons just short of the Lions line, so close to securing what would have been one of the great turnarounds in the competition's history. 

Yet, despite running out of puff and employing some questionable game management in the closing stages, the Lions got home.  

Hendrikse kicked penalties from everywhere, which kept the Lions ticking over despite an early try from Dragons flyhalf Will Reed. 

The major break for Van Rooyen's men, though, came midway through the first half when the Lions scored two tries in as many minutes. 

The first came after a