URC leaders Edinburgh blow Lions away at Hive Stadium | News24

After four rounds, early season leaders Edinburgh remain at the summit of the United Rugby Championship log after a 31-10 win over the Lions at Hive Stadium on Friday night.

An emotional tour for the Lions continued in the Scottish capital following the sudden death of lock Hyron Andrews in France last Friday.

Local supporters again honoured the 31-year-old Andrews, who died of an aortic dissection at the team’s hotel on the eve of their Champions Cup debut against La Rochelle, by staging a minute’s round of applause in the fifth minute of the match.

On a cold and sodden night, far removed from the current spring climes of the Highveld, Edinburgh showed more appetite for attacking enterprise in their natural habitat, while the conditions saw the Lions playing within themselves.

The long-awaited return of Scottish international winger Duhan van der Merwe was short-lived after he cried off with injury after 15 minutes, but it was Edinburgh who took a narrow 5-3 lead into the break after a single try in the first half.

After a lengthy attritional battle for territorial ascendancy in the opening exchanges, Matt Currie found himself on the end of a fine passing movement in the 22nd minute that began at the halfway mark and unlocked the slightest of gaps in the Lions’ defence down the left touchline.

A one-two exchanges between the outside centre and industrious scrumhalf Hector Patterson ended a well-worked try for the hosts.

The conversion attempt from James Grayson, however, curled too far to the right of the posts.

Lions pivot Chris Smith added three points for the visitors in the 33rd minute after a penalty earned in a rare entry into Edinburgh’s 22.

The Johannesburg outfit were feeding off scraps from their hosts, who enjoyed the majority of possession, albeit without much to show for it in the first half. Large parts of the match were being played in the middle of the pitch.

One sliver of opportunity came when the Lions earned a penalty outside Edinburgh’s red zone following a hooved kick into the latter’s half, but captain Francke Horn was held up on the line before the ball was ultimately lost forward.

However, as half-time approached, there was a feeling the Lions’ probes were beginning to ask sterner questions, with their defence largely remaining resolute as Edinburgh perhaps tried to be too flash in the wet weather, rather than turning to the patience game of phase play.

A try from Mosese Tuipulotu soon after the restart was overturned for a knock-on in the build-up, but it showed Edinburgh’s intent as they began to dominate the set pieces more while welcoming collisions.

The burly inside centre wouldn’t be denied at his second time of asking when he burst from a lineout maul as Edinburgh were rewarded for sustained pressure on the Lions.

This gave them a seven-point cushion (12-3), but they were not done. Scrumhalf Patterson went from try-assistant to scorer after a slick backline movement a la Scottish flair that originated off a dominant scrum at halfway.

With the match about to tick over into its final quarter, the Lions were searching for a response as a first win abroad since the 2024 season (against Zebre in Parma) appeared increasingly unlikely.

It came soon. Even though their lineout was poached deep in the opposition’s half, Lions players came crashing over Patterson on Edinburgh’s line with the scrumhalf surrendering the ball and flanker Batho Hlekani collecting a pass from Smith to barrel over. Smith’s unflappable boot brought the Lions within nine points (19-10).

It would be their only try of the match. Patterson made it two assists and two tries for the fixture when he darted off from a quick penalty take to give Edinburgh their bonus point.

They stretched their lead further in the 71st minute with a fifth touchdown, with winger Geordie Gwynn getting in on the act following a series of passes that wrong-footed an increasingly lethargic Lions side even as the weather relented.

Ivan van Rooyen’s charges next face the Glasgow Warriors before they can return home to loved ones from a tour struck by tragedy.

Scorers

Edinburgh 31 (5)

Tries Matt Currie, Mosese Tuipulotu, Hector Patterson (2), Geordie Gwynn

Conversions: James Grayson (3), Cammy Scott

Lions 10 (3)

Tries: Batho Hlekani

Conversions: Chris Smith

Penalty: Chris Smith