The Lions suffered a narrow defeat in their second tour match of the new Vodacom URC season, in an exhilarating clash away to Zebre on Sunday.
Ivan van Rooyen’s side showed massive fight in the second half after going into the sheds with a 12-3 deficit – and with two minutes to go – looked to have sneaked the victory.
But the Joburg-based outfit ultimately fell short 22-20 in Parma and remain winless after a loss to Cardiff in round one.
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The hosts took early control of the match, and threatened to open up a massive lead after tries by Bautista Stavile and Tommaso Di Bartolomeo.
The Lions, though, managed to tighten up their game, but a Chris Smith penalty is all they could show in the first 40.
In the third quarter, the cage fight seemingly ignited into life with prop SJ Kotze rounding off some individual brilliance from winger Angelo Davids in the 54th minute.
It took just five minutes after that for the Lions to get their second of the match, courtesy of winger Eduan Keyter to pull them in front.
Eduan Keyter is finding form in a Lions jersey
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Smith missed both conversions, but the tries set up an exciting final quarter as both teams played with added fire.
A penalty kick from replacement Martin Roger Farias restored Zebre’s lead to 15-13 with a little over 10 minutes still to play.
A try seven minutes from time by replacement prop Morne Brandon with replacement flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela adding the extras, looked to win it for the visitors.
But a try on the brink of full time by replacement prop Matteo Nocera sealed the win for the hosts.
The Lions stay in Italy where they’ll face Benetton in search of their first win of the new campaign.
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LIONS – Tries: SJ Kotze, Eduan Keyter, Morne Brandon. Conversion: Lubabalo Dobela. Penalty: Chris Smith.
ZEBRE – Tries: Bautista Stavile, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Matteo Nocera. Conversions: Giacomo Da Re, Martin Roger Farias. Penalty: Farias.
Photo: Kian Abdullah/Gallo Images
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