Lions with strong second-half performance to beat visiting Highlanders

Elton Jantjies: Kicked the goal that gave his side the win

The Lions came back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Highlanders 28-22 in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Tries from Gareth Evans and Malakai Fekitoa gave Highlanders a commanding 20-3 lead at half-time, but the Lions came back with scores from Courtnall Skosan, Jaco Kriel and Harold Vorster, before replacement Elton Jantjies booted them to victory at Ellis Park.

Both sides brought all of their attacking rugby to Johannesburg, but with neither side able to string together enough scoring plays, it was just 6-3 to Highlanders after 34 minutes thanks to a Lima Sopoaga penalty and drop goal to go with a 55m kick from the Lions' Marnitz Boshoff.

With just five minutes remaining in the half the drought of tries was broken by the speedy work of Aaron Smith who spotted that the Lions had failed to spread left in defence, and sent the ball down the line where it went through the hands and ended up with Gareth Evans who crashed over. Sopoaga converted to give his side a ten-point lead.

Lions were on the attack as the half drew to a close before the ball spilled out of the back of the ruck and All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa scooped it up and ran in a superb solo effort to give his side a 20-3 half-time lead.

It was the Lions who took control of the third quarter as they scored tries through Skosan, Kriel and Vorster, with Highlanders only holding on to a 23-22 lead thanks to a drop goal from full-back Ben Smith.

The scores remained that way until the 70th minute, when Highlanders tried to run their way out of their own 22, but got caught in possession and conceded a penalty that was converted by replacement Jantjies.

With the lead secured, Jantjies was given a chance to add to it when Highlanders were penalised at a scrum under their poles, and the South African pivot duly delivered.

With a lead of 28-23 the Lions were forced to endure a period of sustained attack from the Highlanders in the dying minutes but held out for an important win in front of the home fans.