Lions roar at last

The Lions secured their first Super Rugby victory at the 18th time of asking with a 25-20 success over the Cheetahs at the Free State Stadium.

First-half tries by Lionel Mapoe and Derrick Minnie paved the way to victory in Bloemfontein as Elton Jantjies fired 15 points for the visitors, who had not won in Super Rugby since May 2009.

The Cheetahs grabbed a solitary score through Andries Strauss but they failed to capitalise on several periods of pressure during the game and their search for a first win of 2011 goes on.

The hosts made a strong start and were soon ahead via the boot of Sias Ebersohn after the Lions were caught off-side.

John Mitchell's men responded in style with an emphatic breakaway try, which saw Doppies La Grange cut his way through to the halfway line, before James Kamana took it further forward and off-loaded to Mapoe for his first score of the season.

Jantjies missed the conversion, although he made amends with a penalty moments later to extend the lead, while at the other end, Riaan Viljoen tried his luck from close to the halfway line, but missed the Cheetahs' second penalty.

Dangerous

Ebersohn was tasked with the next attempt when the Lions were penalised for holding on to the ball - the number 10 maintaining his 100 per cent record by slotting the ball through the middle from 35 metres.

But the visitors continued to look dangerous going forward with another penalty coming their way after 25 minutes, which Jantjies made no mistake with this time.

His opposite number kept Naka Drotske's men in the hunt cancelling out that score, before another breakaway led to Minnie crossing on the right corner after a well-timed off-load by Bandise Maku. Jantjies again missed the conversion.

Two minutes before the break Strauss ran in a first try for the Cheetahs after good interplay from their backs - Everson skewing his kick this time and on the stroke of half-time Viljoen missed another chance to put his side in front as the Lions led 16-14.

After the restart, Ebersohn and Jantjies exchanged penalties and the game remained on a knife-edge until 20 minutes to go as the hosts were handed the advantage when Kamana was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Robert Ebersohn.

Sias Ebersohn putting them back in charge before a sustained period of pressure resulted in Ashley Johnson crossing, only for his score to be ruled out for a knock on and the decision knocked the stuffing out of the home team and two further Jantjies penalties helped the Lions see out the win.