16 Mar 2014

Lions inflict third loss on Blues as Benji scores

6:44 am on 16 March 2014

The South Africa side the Lions have narrowly beaten the Blues 39-36 in their Super Rugby match in Johannesburg.

The Lions led 17-0 at half-time. Fullback Benji Marshall scored one of the Blues' five tries to the Lions' three, but it was the kicking from the hosts that was the difference as they inflicted the Blues' third loss in four games.

Recalled first five Marnitz Boshoff kicked 24 points to make sure of home success but the Blues claimed a bonus point thanks to a five-try spree in the second half, that saw them fight back from 20-0 down to get within three points of their opponents.

A controversial try to Coenie van Wyk midway through the second half, awarded after a television review decided the Lions had not knocked the ball on in the build up, was the decisive moment of the match as it gave the Lions a 15-point cushion.

Simon Hickey and Marshall scored for the visitors in the final 10 minutes, but two late penalties from Boshoff ensured the Lions claimed their third win of the season.

It was the first time the Lions had beaten the Blues since 2006.

Also on Sunday morning, the Queensland Reds fell 35-20 to the Sharks in Durban.