Edinburgh scored four tries to beat the Lions in Friday night’s round-of-16 EPCR Challenge Cup playoff at Hive Stadium.
The hosts led 17-0 at half time before going on to close out a 24-12 victory.
Edinburgh will host Bayonne or the Vodacom Bulls in next weekend’s quarter-finals, while the Lions return to South Africa for a four-match home run to end the league stage of the Vodacom URC.
Coach Sean Everitt’s side made a perfect start to the match when fullback Wes Goosen, earning his 50th cap for the club, scored within two minutes following a break from winger Darcy Graham down the touchline.
Scrumhalf Ben Vellacott leapt over a tackle to score Edinburgh’s second try before Lions fullback Quan Horn was sent to the sin bin for cynical play.
While he was off, Edinburgh flank Jamie Ritchie powered over from close range and flyhalf Ross Thompson kicked his first conversion to extend the lead to 17.
Early in the second half, Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist was sent to the sin bin for a tackle off the ball and the Lions capitalised on their numerical advantage, with captain and No 8 Francke Horn scoring two minutes later.
The game then became scrappy and the scoreboard only changed again in the 72nd minute when replacement scrumhalf Ali Price scored Edinburgh’s fourth.
That was followed by a late consolation try from Lions replacement hooker Jaco Visage.
Photo: Robert Perry/PA Images via Getty Images
