Match Centre: Challenge Cup: Lions 35-13 Newcastle Falcons

Lions 35-13 Newcastle Falcons, Pool 2, Emirates Airline Park

Newcastle Falcons losing streak this season continued as they were defeated by Lions with a 35-13 margin in the second round of the Challenge Cup at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

Lions now have two wins from as many games as they climb to the top of Pool 2 while Newcastle's losing streak meant they are at fifth position.

Brett Connon slotted a penalty from in front of the posts seven minutes but the Lions bounced back in the 18th minute when PJ Botha broke away from a maul in the left corner to dot down.

The South African side doubled their lead around the half hour mark as JP Smith went over from a similar line-out-maul situation before Connon kicked a penalty goal for the Falcons in the 32nd minute.

The end of the opening half saw Newcastle Falcons were down to 13 players temporarily with skipper Josh Bainbridge sin-binned for an offence at a ruck in the 36th minute and Philip van der Walt followed the suit for a high tackle as the teams completed the opening half with a 14-6 scoreline.

The Lions extended their lead in the second half with Emmanuel Tshituka powering her way over in the 50th minute but Freddie Lockwood touched down for the visitors eight minutes later as the gap between the teams remained at eight points leading into the final quarter.

The final 10 minutes saw Marius Louw and Emmanuel Tshituka traded tries as Lions completed a convincing 22 point victory.

Team line up:

Lions: Q. Horn; Kriel, Jonker, Louw, Maxwane; Nohamba, Van Den Berg; J.P. Smith, Botha, Ntlabakanye, Alberts, Landsberg, Tshituka, Venter, F. Horn.

Reserves: Visagie, Naude, R. Smith, Roets, Sirgel, Pretorius, Hendrikse, Lombard.

Newcastle: Obatoyinbo; Greenwood, Stevenson, Hutchison, Brown; Connon, Barton; Brocklebank, Maddison, Tampin, Cardall, McDonald, Van der Walt, Bainbridge (capt), Kelly.

Reserves: Van Vuuren, Dormer, McCallum, Scott, Lockwood, Douglas, Thomas, Wacokecoke.