FULL TIME: CARDIFF 18-31 LIONS

The Lions win another turnover after the ball isn't controlled at the base of a Cardiff scrum.

CONVERSION, LIONS, LOMBARD, 18-31: Lombard adds another two and that settles the game for sure.

TRY, LIONS, HORN, 18-29: Horn sneaks a try that gets the Lions a bonus point with some shambolic defence from Cardiff.

Cardiff might have given up the cheapest of scores here with the TMO called in to check if Horn has snuck in and scored.

Lombard has a dip with a drop goal but he pushes his kick wide of the posts and Cardiff will have a 22 metre drop out.

Cardiff can't get out of their 22 with the carry and eventually kick but they give the Lions the feed just outside the Cardiff 22.

A sloppy error on attack from the Lions means they miss out on a chance to kill this game off. Cardiff can start another attack but will have to do so from deep inside their own 22.

Cardiff's hands let them down as they try to attack from deep and the Lions have the scrum ten inside the Blues half.

Cardiff win a massive scrum time penalty and can get away from their 22.

The Lions have stolen the restart and have attacking ball but a tackler is trapped wrong side and the Lions have an attacking scrum.

The conversion is missed.

TRY, CARDIFF, LEWIS-HUGHES, 18-24: Cardiff have mauled over in the corner and this game is well and truly back on now.

Cardiff get another crack from a penalty which they use to set up another lineout just five out from the Lions line this time.

Cardiff finally have some attacking impetus and they have set up a lineout in the Lions 22 to get right back into this game.

CONVERSION, LIONS, LOMBARD, 13-24: Lombard adds the extras and makes it a two-try game at least.

TRY, LIONS, VAN DEN BERG, 13-22: Van den Berg gathers a loose ball and dives over to score after a spell of sustained pressure.

The TMO is called into the action after the ball pops out of a breakdown and Van den Berg dives over.

Cardiff concede another killer penalty in the 22 after the Lions fail to make the most of a poor kick from Priestland.

Cardiff get the steal on their own 22 but they immediately knock on and they will now have to defend an attacking scrum from the Lions.

Cardiff get the lineout down and bang it up before clearing to touch but it isn't a big one and the Lions can come back from just outside the 22.

The Lions maul is going forward but they roll straight out into touch and Cardiff get a little break.

The Lions win a penalty at the lineout but not before playing a multi-phase advantage that takes more time off the clock.

The Lions get a free kick at the scrum and then take their time deciding to set another scrum. At that scrum the Lions win a penalty and there is one particular fan who appears to be incensed.

Coetzee kicks to touch but doesn't find a very long one and Cardiff have the lineout ten inside their half but as they kick back its knocked on in the aerial challenge and the Lions will feed a scrum just outside their own 22.

A sloppy handling error snuffs out a Cardiff attack off the lineout after a decent exit.

CONVERSION, LIONS, LOMBARD, 13-17: Lombard opens it up to four points that they lead by as the momentum has now well and truly shifted.

TRY, LIONS, BOTHA, 13-15: The Lions have mauled over after another penalty.

The Lions apply the pressure after the scrum and following a number of phases Taulupe Faletau secures the turn-over with a brilliant tackle.

Great work by the Lions after the line-out as they drive forward and then progress patiently. They come close and now have a feed to the scrum six metres out.

After some kicking up and down the field where no team gained any advantage we are back at halfway for a line-out.

The Lions secure a line-out near halfway and get the rolling maul going. Once again Cardiff suck them in and then secure the turn-over.

Kick-off! We are back underway in the second half.

HALF-TIME: CARDIFF 13-10 LIONS. Cardiff hit the sheds with only a three point lead after dominating for most of the half. The Lions defended well but Cardiff's mistakes certainly did not help their cause. The rain and strong winds also contributed to this being a stop-start affair at this stage.

PENALTY TRY, LIONS! 13-10: The Lions go for the corner after a penalty and decide not to go for posts. It pays off, as the referee rules that following repeated offences after a maul that a penalty try should be awarded and the Lions are suddenly within reach.

CONVERSION, CARDIFF, EVANS! 13-3: Jarrod Evans adds two more with an easy conversion.

TRY, CARDIFF, BOTHAM! 11-3: Cardiff are back on the attack after an effective kick by Evans and Sanele Nohamba makes a hash of it to hand Cardiff a line-out inside the Lions 22. The hosts secure the set-piece and after sustained pressure around the goal line James Botham reaches OVER to SCORE!

Needless to say Cardiff come again and yet again a spill in the tackle ends a promising move. We have a stoppage after a clash of heads between two players.

Cardiff on the attack again and string the phases together before a sloppy pass gives it back to the Lions. POOR!

PENALTY, LIONS, LOMBARD! 6-3: After some relentless Lions pressure Evans gives away a penalty right in front near the 10 metre line. Gianni Lombard steps up to slot the kick.

The Lions find touch and secure the set-piece before messing it up and handing possession back to Cardiff at the breakdown.

The Lions now have their penalty at the breakdown after Taulupe Faletau is isolated. The Lions lose Van Der Merwe, who was hurt in a tackle to the head. He walks off.

PENALTY, CARDIFF, EVANS! 6-0: Jarrod Evans slots his second kick after a clear penalty at the breakdown. The Lions need to be careful.

These teams have both been keen to throw the ball around but in the process have committed silly mistakes.

Cardiff have dominated thus far but they have been their own worst enemy with all these unforced errors.

Cardiff secure the line-out and have numbers to spare before the cross-kick is well read by Edwill van der Merwe and he secures the ball. They SHOULD HAVE SCORED! The cross-kick was not needed!

Another Lions mistake for an easy Cardiff penalty at the breakdown. Cardiff feed a set-piece on the Lions 22.

This is a real water-break, as it's also bucketing down!

Good kicking by Cardiff place them on the attack after the restart. They come close before a brilliant tackle end the onslaught and the Lions feed a scrum albeit under pressure. The Lions manage to steal a scrum penalty. How did that happen?

The Lions finally get their hands on the ball but fail to make progress against the strong wind. Cardiff get it back and in turn make their way to the Lions 22. Lucky Lions to get away with a penalty after Van Der Merwe is tackled in the air.

PENALTY, CARDIFF, EVANS! 3-0: The Cardiff scrummie is played without the ball and they secure a penalty in a good position. Jarrod Evans lines up the easy kick!

It's been all Cardiff here in the opening minutes. The Lions have been pinned back for most of it.

The kicking continues and Gianni Lombard then messes up a clearance and Cardiff has the advantage in the line-out. They Go wide before a kick sends the ball out for a goal-line drop-out. Lucky Lions.

It's a kicking game to start by both teams here early on and the Lions then secure the first line-out before securing an offside penalty. They find a good touch.

Kick-off! We are underway here in Wales!

Tonight's man with the whistle is Sam Grove-White, and he will be assisted by Craig Evans and Carwyn Williams. Ben Blain has the TMO duties.

Lions: Andries Coetzee; Edwill van der Merwe, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw, Quan Horn; Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba; Sti Sithole, PJ Botha, Ruan Dreyer, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Reinhard Nothnagel (c), Sibusiso Sangweni, Emmanuel Tshituka, Francke Horn. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Ruan Venter, Ruhan Straeuli, Morne van den Berg, Jordan Hendrikse, Zander du Plessis.

Lions: Andries Coetzee; Edwill van der Merwe, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw, Quan Horn; Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba; Sti Sithole, PJ Botha, Ruan Dreyer, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Reinhard Nothnagel (c), Sibusiso Sangweni, Emmanuel Tshituka, Francke Horn. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Ruan Venter, Ruhan Straeuli, Morne van den Berg, Jordan Hendrikse, Zander du Plessis.

Cardiff: Rhys Priestland; Aled Summerhill, Rey Lee-Lo, Max Llewellyn, Theo Cabango; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Brad Thyer, Liam Belcher, Dillon Lewis, Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull (c), James Botham, Taulupe Faletau. Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Corey Domachowski, Dmitri Arhip, Rory Thornton, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Lloyd Williams, Mason Grady, Uilisi Halaholo.

The two teams have only met once before in the United Rugby Championship, which was in March 2022. The Lions enjoyed home ground advantage and took the points with a 37-20 win.

The Lions had an unhappy start to the season at home, losing 15-31 to their neighbours the Bulls. Desperate to make amends, last Saturday the Lions squeaked home with a 27-28 away win over the Ospreys.

Cardiff kicked-off with a 20-13 win over Munster at home, before picking up a mighty walloping on the road from Glasgow Warriors, who ran out 52-24 winners last Friday.

Cardiff are in 10th place with four points after starting their campaign with a win and a loss. They play hosts to the Lions, one spot above them on the log in 9th place, also with four points having also started with a loss and a win.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship clash between Cardiff Rugby and the Lions from Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff, Wales.