Ferris and Earls score early tries for Lions

Cheetahs 0 Lions 17

Stephen Ferris and Keith Earls have both scored tries in the Lions' game against the Cheetahs.

For the first time since arriving in South Africa 13 days ago, the Lions were greeted by overcast conditions for a game refereed by leading English official Wayne Barnes.

The tourists made a lively start, looking to keep possession alive, but an O’Callaghan knock-on sacrificed a promising attacking position deep inside the Cheetahs’ 22.

A juggernaut Lions front-row of Andrew Sheridan, Ross Ford and Euan Murray looked to have made its mark, but the game’s second scrum disintegrated into a brawl.

Lions flanker Stephen Ferris and Cheetahs lock Nico Breedt wrestled on the floor, while several other players also got involved before Barnes warned Murray and his opposite number Wian du Preez.

Fly-half James Hook hoisted the Lions ahead with a 40-metre penalty after seven minutes, but the visitors were already embroiled in a far more fierce encounter than at Ellis Park three days ago.

Hook’s opposite number Jacques-Louis Potgieter missed a long-range penalty chance, and the Lions responded by catching the home defence asleep.

The Cheetahs failed to clear 30 metres out, and Ferris reacted quickest, gathering possession and sprinting unopposed to the line for a try which Hook converted.

It was Ferris’ second touchdown of the tour, putting him one behind leading try-scorer Tommy Bowe, as the Lions began to take a firm grip on proceedings.

And with a one-sided opening quarter reaching its conclusion, the Lions struck again.

Hook’s delightful kick into space was collected by Earls, who showed a blistering turn of pace to leave the Cheetahs’ defence for dead. Hook added the extras for a commanding 17-0 advantage.