Mentz hat-trick sinks Reds
The Lions ended their three-match losing streak with a 31-20 victory over the Queensland Reds in their Super 14 clash on Saturday.
Last Updated: 18/04/09 11:27am
The Lions ended their three-match losing streak with a 31-20 victory over the Queensland Reds in their Super 14 clash on Saturday.
A hat-trick from winger Henno Mentz plus a first-half try from Ernst Joubert saw off the error-riddled Reds in this match between the also-rans at the Suncorp Stadium.
The win took the Lions to 19 points for the season but with the two sides in 12th and 13th place respectively they remain almost 10 points away from a potential playoff with a half-dozen teams in between.
The South African's led 17-10 at halftime with each team scoring twice before the break -- Mentz and Ernst Joubert for the visitors and Will Genia and Scott Higginbotham for the Reds.
Both Reds' tries went unconverted, along with a Berrick Barnes penalty, while Andre Pretorius kicked two conversions and a penalty in the first half for the Lions.
Advantage
Mentz claimed his second six minutes into the second half after latching onto a backward flick pass from Earl Rose and Pretorius added the extras.
Reds fly-half Quade Cooper closed the gap to 24-18 when he crossed 10 minutes later and Barnes converted to pull the Reds to within four points.
The Lions were reduced to thirteen men half way through the second half but the Reds failed to push home their two-man advantage
In fact, it was the Lions who managed to get one over the home side when Mentz raced over for his third try of the match and a bonus point.
Pretorius converted by give the visitors an 11-point lead to close out the game.
