FULL TIME. CARDIFF 20-17 LIONS. The Lions have one last crack at the line but once again it is ruled that they have been held up. No opportunity for the TMO to review this time as the referee blows the whistle to the consternation of the Lions players.
It could be a try for the Lions. It has gone to the TMO with the referee saying there is no clear on-field of grounding. If there is evidence of grounding the Lions will win. If there is no evidence then it will be a scrum to Cardiff. No evidence is found and there are 41 seconds to play.
Time is running out but the Lions win a penalty and they look to go to the corner. It's a great kick from Quan Horn to set up a lineout 6m out.
Lions are penalized for collapsing the maul. Cardiff go for the lineout one more time.
Lions are penalized for collapsing the maul. Cardiff go for the lineout one more time.
YELLOW CARD. LOMBARD. After viewing the incident multiple times the referee decides that Lombard knocked the ball on intentionally. It looked pretty innocent on the replays as the ball hit him in the tackle.
The game has really opened up with both sides giving the ball a bit more air than earlier. As much as they are looking to be more expansive there is still no way through for either side. That last few minutes was frenzied.
Cardiff win a penalty at the scrum and they are delighted. Sheedy punts the ball up-field to set up an attacking lineout.
CONVERSION. CARDIFF. SHEEDY. Cardiff 20-17 Lions. The home side add the extra two points.
TRY. CARDIFF. MILLARD. Cardiff.18-17 Lions. Poor pass from Marius Louw is slow and telegraphed and straight into the arms of the waiting Harri Millard who pins his ears back and sprints 50m to score.
CONVERSION. LIONS. LOMBARD. Cardiff 13-17 Lions. Easy conversion for the 10.
TRY! LIONS. HORNE. Cardiff 13-15 Lions. It all starts from a clanger of an error by Gabriel Hamer-Webb. He claims a mark and then inexplicably when he looks to kick it steps out the 22m area and bangs it into touch. Lions win the Lineout and pick and go for a number of phases. Eventually the skipper barges over.
The Lions front row have had a good game thus far. They are subbed en-masse with 25 minutes still to go.
There is quite a lot more kicking in the second half with both sides looking to launch big up-and-unders. The latest phase ands with a Lions lineout.
PENALTY. CARDIFF. SHEEDY. Cardiff 13-10 Lions. Cardiff kick ahead into a piece of open space. The Lions struggle to field it and Kriel spills it forward. Cardiff onto the ball in a flash and, while they don't get the try they win the penalty as the Lions slow the ball illegally. Sheedy kicks the three points from almost bang in front.
Rey Lee-Lo wins a penalty for Cardiff as he latches onto the ball after a tackle. Cardiff clear to touch after a period of sustained pressure from Lions.
Nico Steyn is down after a heavy tackle which is ruled high. Penalty only, not a card. Lions clear their lines with a nice touch-finder.
PENALTY. LIONS. LOMBARD. Cardiff 10-10 Lions. Lions win a penalty right in front of the poles and they have opted to kick at goal. Penalty was awarded for playing the ball on the ground. Lombard slots the kick easily.
Lions concede a soft penalty as Nico Steyn clips the ankles of a kick chaser and trips him. Cardiff look to set up a lineout but they miss touch and the Lions clear.
Play is back underway as Lombard gets proceedings underway.
Referee blows for the break. Cardiff will be happy with the points they have on the board. They have been living off scraps, but they are in the lead.
it looks like the Lions are in for a try but there is a pass that is marginal. The referee takes a moment to have a look and on closer inspection the forward pass looks obvious. No try.
The Lions finally win a penalty of almost 20 phases. They are swinging the ball left and right but cannot seem to unlock the Cardiff defence. They opt for a lineout rather than to kick at poles.
PENALTY. CARDIFF. SHEEDY. Cardiff 10-7 Lions. Sheedy bangs one over the poles after a mistake in midfield by the Lions sees them concede a soft penalty.
Kriel puts in a huge tackle on a Cardiff man in full flight. He sits him down good and proper and the ball spills forward for a scrum.
The possession and territory stats are all wildly in favour of the Lions, but the conditions are tricky and once again, as they look to be on the front foot in the attacking zone, they concede a penalty and Cardiff and clear their lines.
CONVERSION. CARDIFF. SHEEDY. Cardiff 7-7 Lions. Sheedy adds the extra two and the game is all square once again.
TRY! CARDIFF. DONNELL. Cardiff 5-7 Lions. From the penalty Cardiff work the ball into midfield and then switch play to a surging run Donnell. He crashes over for the opening score for the home side.
There is a huge cheer from the crowd as the smallest man on the field, little number nine Johan Mulder puts in a huge tackle on the biggest unit on the field, Asenathi Ntlabakanye. He drives him back and wins a penalty.
JC Pretorius wins his second penalty in a handful of minutes as he is over the ball in an instant at the tackle.
Another penalty for the Lions and they are straight back onto the attack.
CONVERSION! LIONS. LOMBARD. Cardiff 0-7 Lions. The flyhalf adds the extras.
TRY! LIONS. NTLABAKANYE. Cardiff 0-5 Lions. It is all Lions at the moment as they drive at the Cardiff Lion time and time again. They win another penalty (once again for the Cardiff player failing to roll away), and tap and go quickly. The ball finds its way to Asenathi Ntlabakanye who powers over.
After taking the ball through a number of phases Josh McNally concedes a penalty as he fails to roll away after a tackle and he blocks the ball coming out. Lions set up a lineout and look to launch the maul.
It is a very wet and greasy surface and there may well be more rain at Cardiff Arms Park before the night is over. As Cardiff have their first entry into the Lions 22, they spill it and give away a scrum. Lions win a penalty from the set-piece.
the Lions win their lineout but as PJ Botha takes it up, he is tackled and fails to release as a Cardiff man is onto the ball in a flash. Penalty to Cardiff.
A first penalty for the Lions as the home side are penalized for cleaning out a player beyond the ruck. It is too far to aim for poles so they set up an attacking lineout.
The game is underway as Vedovelli gives the whistle a blast and Callum Sheedy kicks proceedings off.
Running the game tonight are:
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Aaron Parry (Wales)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Jarod Cairns, 23 Henco van Wyk
The home team for tonight is as follows:
Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Harri Millard, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Alex Mann, 6 Ben Donnell, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Rhys Litterick, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Danny Southworth.
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 James Botham, 21 Thomas Young, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Tinus de Beer.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the URC game between Cardiff and the Lions at Cardiff Arms Park. Kick-off just under ten minutes away.
