Cardiff beat Lions despite Thomas red card

United Rugby Championship, Cardiff Arms Park

Cardiff (14) 33

Tries: B Thomas, Winnett, Mann, E Lloyd 2 Cons: Sheedy 4

Lions (13) 20

Tries: Venter, Steenkamp Cons: Dobela 2 Pens: Dobela 2

Cardiff made a winning start to the United Rugby Championship (URC) by beating Lions 33-20 despite Wales centre Ben Thomas being red-carded for a dangerous clearout.

The Blue and Blacks started life without head coach Matt Sherratt with a bonus-point win at the Arms Park.

Cardiff led 14-13 at the break after tries by Thomas and full-back Cam Winnett but should have been further ahead.

They missed opportunities to take command and had a third try, for flanker Taine Basham, chalked off after Thomas was adjudged to have caught scrum-half Nico Steyn in the head when clearing out a ruck.

However, tries by flanker Alex Mann and hooker Evan Lloyd (2), plus the boot of Callum Sheedy, earned the spoils.

After defeats for Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, the Blue and Blacks deservedly got Wales off the mark on opening weekend despite the disruption of losing Sherratt to the national coaching team on Monday.

Cardiff opened the scoring in the ninth minute when a patient, multi-phase attack saw tight-head prop Javan Sebastian make a big burst in the 22 before centre Thomas brushed off a tackle to go over by the posts.

Fly-half Sheedy made it 7-0 from the tee before Lubabalo Dobela got Lions on the scoreboard with a penalty.

Cardiff lost captain Liam Belcher to injury but stretched their lead in the 23rd minute with another slick attack that was finished off by full-back Winnett on the left wing, Sheedy making it 14-3 from the touchline.

Lions responded when flanker Ruan Venter powered over from close range with Dobela converting for 14-10.

Then came the flashpoint on the half hour that ended Thomas' night with a 20-minute red card after a TMO review, and denied Basham a try on a lively debut as part of a strong back row.

Dobela made it 14-13 with a penalty in the 37th minute and then Cardiff turned down a chance to immediately respond only for Sheedy to kick the ball dead rather than find the corner.

Lions should have hit the front soon after the restart but centre Henco Van Wyk was denied by the boot of Winnett as he reached for the line after an impressive charge and then knocked on.

The South Africans were dominant and got their reward when number eight WJ Steenkamp went over thanks to a strong scrum.

Dobela converted for 20-14 before Cardiff were restored to 15 men and immediately hit back, flanker Mann spinning out of a tackle and reaching over.

They had breathing space approaching the hour when they kicked to the corner and Lloyd caught Lions napping when darting down the blindside, Sheedy making it a perfect four to stretch the lead to 28-20.

The seal was put on the victory when Lloyd hit his man at the front of a line-out and guided the drive over.

Cardiff: Winnett; Adams, Millard, B Thomas, Bowen; Sheedy, Mulder; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, T Williams, Mann, Basham, Lawrence.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Southworth, Assiratti, Donnell, D Thomas, Davies, I Lloyd, Beetham.

Lions: Q Horn, Mafura, Van Wyk, Kriel, Davids; Dobela, N Steyn; Kotze, Marais, Ntlabakanye, Sjoblom, Delport, Cairns, R Venter, Steenkamp.

Replacements: Brandon, Pohlmann, R Schoeman, Landsberg, R Du Plessis, Pead, Francis, Jonker.

Referee: Filippo Russo (FIR).

Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (WRU), Lucas Yendle (WRU).

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR).