Lions battle back after Benetton scare

The Lions claimed a bonus point victory as they defeated United Rugby Championship opponents Benetton 37-29 in Johannesburg.

The South African side trailed by 14 points just before half-time, but they fought back impressively to claim a seventh win of their URC campaign.

Fly-half Jordan Hendrikse led the way, posting a 17-point haul through a try, two penalties and three conversions.

And there were also Lions touchdowns for wings Stean Pienaar and Edwill van der Merwe, lock Ruben Schoeman and scrum-half Morne van den Berg.

Benetton dominated the first period through full-back Rhyno Smith’s try double and a score from centre Filippo Drago, with Smith adding two conversions and fly-half Tomas Albornoz a drop-goal.

But they fell away after the break and did not score a point until the closing seconds when number eight Lorenzo Cannone crossed and Smith converted.