Melbourne Rebels squander lead in 34-17 loss to Lions

THE Melbourne Rebels wasted a second-half lead to fall 34-17 in their Super Rugby clash against the Lions in South Africa.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 27: Scott Higginbotham of the Rebels looks to offload the ball during the round 17 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Reds at AAMI Park on June 27, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)

THE Melbourne Rebels wasted a second-half lead to fall 34-17 in their Super Rugby clash against the Lions in South Africa.

The Rebels’ fourth straight loss puts them in prime wooden spoon territory ahead of next weekend’s last-round clash against the Bulls.

The Rebels were leading 17-14 with 25 minutes to play before the high altitude conditions at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium took their toll, and they went down three tries to two.

The visitors had their chances, however, with captain Scott Higginbotham twice bundled into touch while reaching out to score. His night only got worse in the 70th minute when he was given a yellow card for a tip tackle on Willie Britz.

The Lions were extremely successful at pressuring the Rebels at the breakdown and stalling their momentum.

Young Rebels fullback Jack Debreczeni started nervously in his second game taking over from Jason Woodward, making a couple of mistakes and missing an absolute sitter of a penalty goal from almost directly in front.

Lions sharpshooter Marnitz Boshoff, on the other hand, starred for the home side, kicking seven goals for a haul of 19 points and throwing a long cut out pass for a second-minute try to winger Anthony Volmink.

A quick tap from Rebels half-back Luke Burgess finally sparked the visitors into action in the 22nd minute, Tom English crossing to narrow the gap to 8-7.

Traded penalties had the Lions edging out for a 14-10 half-time lead.

The Rebels hit the front in the 52nd minute when flanker Colby Fainga’a scored from the back of a maul.

English then thought he had crossed for a double when he dove over a ruck, only to realise he’d placed the ball over the five metre line, not the try line.

That hurt the Rebels and their stalled momentum resulted in the Lions going the length of the field for a 57th minute try to Warwick Tecklenburg and a three-point lead.

Boshoff then knocked over another two penalties to extend the Lions’ lead to 10 before captain Warren Whitely put the result beyond doubt with a 71st minute try.

Originally published as Melbourne Rebels squander lead in 34-17 loss to Lions