The Waratahs have beaten the Lions for the first time in six outings since 2014 to pick up their first win of the 2020 Super Rugby season.
The men from Sydney scored five tries to the Lions’ two as they triumphed 29-17. The home team led 19-10 at the break.
It was the Waratahs’ first win of their campaign, while the Lions have now slipped to one win and three defeats from their four games.
The Waratahs were quick out the blocks and led 14-0 after 10 minutes following converted tries by prop Angus Bell and flank Lachlan Swinton. The latter score came while Lions lock Ruben Schoeman was off the field for a disciplinary matter and before the big lock returned to action, the Tahs had scored a third try, through loose-forward Jack Dempsey.
The Lions then benefitted when the Tahs themselves were reduced to playing with 14 men for 10 minutes when Swinton was yellow carded and Lions flank Marnus Schoeman went over from the driving maul.
Nine points behind when the second half started, the Lions would have had ambitions of catching their opponents and upping the tempo, as they do, in the latter stages of the game, but the home side struck first, in the 55th minute, and all but ended the Lions’ charge.
Replacement back James Ramm went over in the corner to help his side to a 24-10 lead before Schoeman got his second try for the Lions and then the Waratahs put the game to bed in the 77th minute when another replacement, prop Tetera Faulkner, crashed over from close.
It was a convincing and deserved win by the Tahs. The Lions next face the Rebels in Melbourne
Scorers
Waratahs
(19) 29
Tries:
Bell, Swinton, Dempsey, Ramm; Conversions: Harrison (2)
Lions
(10) 17
Tries:
Schoeman (2), Conversions: Coetzee, Jantjies; Penalty: Jantjies