THE LIONS went into the cauldron that is Ellis Park for any visiting side last night and left the scene signed with their honour.

They put the disappointment of the defeat fast Saturday by Northern Transvaal behind them to score a splendid victory over Gauteng (Transvaal) by 20 points to 14 and left a home crowd of nearly 40,000 to contemplate the forthcoming three match test series.

The benefits, both tangible and psychological, of this victory could prove to be immense for the Lions, who now leave the high veldt and face Natal in Durban on Saturday.

The Lions revealed tremendous depth of character, strength, courage and then, ingenuity to claim victory after being 9-3 down at the interval. But it was certainly a case of the Lions reserving their best for the second half.

They found locating a path through the Gauteng defence difficult, but then turned the game as they scored 17 points in a tremendous spell between the 64th and 77th minutes, with two superb tries, one fit to illuminate any occasion, scored by right wing John Bentley.

That broke the heart of the Transvaal challenge and a Gauteng try in injury time, after the Lions had been penalised four times in front of their own posts, offered no more than scant consolation and a statistical entry for the home side.

If the initial period did not generate eat deal in the way of attacking back play or flair. Gauteng enjoyed a territorial advantage. They also reaped the benefit on the scoreboard, with three penalty goals from full back Dawie du Toit to one for the Lions, from out half Mike Catt.

Catt had seen two kicks rebound off an upright and one felt that, perhaps, it was not to be the Lions night as Catt managed only one successful kick from six attempts.

This match was to prove a very useful primer for the first test.

Gauteng deserved their interval lead as they were the more controlled and composed team. The Lions found it hard to strike a rhythm, despite doing very well in the set pieces. Gauteng were more assured in possession, but if the Lions took time to put the pieces of their machine together, they defended with tremendous effect and resolution in that initial period. The back row of Rob Wainwright, Tim Rodber and that bundle of energy and courage, Neil Back, served the cause admirably.

The backs, too, tackled with a will, but a six points interval lead did not really flatter Gauteng. It would have been more had left wing Pieter Hendricks not dropped the ball when the line was open.

The Lions scrum was rock solid throughout, with Paul Wallace again having a fine match, and the lions did very well in the line out. Here, Jeremy Davidson had a tremendous match. This young man grows in stature with each passing game.

It was the Lions who dominated the second period, but they found the Gauteng defence in the same uncompromising mood they had displayed when under pressure in the first half. It was going to take something special to open that defence and the Lions produced it in the 64th minute.

Davidson set up a ruck about 35 yards from the Gauteng line and the Lions initiated an attack Hooker Barry Williams, who again impressed, set up the attack and Will Greenwood did extremely well to beat a defender, his pass finding Healy, who did the rest.

It was a reward for ingenuity. Neil Jenkins, who had come on as a replacement for Tony Underwood, kicked a super conversion from the touchline.

So the Lions were ahead for the first time and within three minutes, Bentley scored the kind of try he will remember for all his days - and so will all who saw it.

The Lions won a ruck deep inside their own half. Jenkins got possession and threw out a long pass to Bentley. He set off down the right flank. When he saw the road was closed, he cut inside, beat a man, waltzed by du Toit's attempt to cut him off and scored under the posts.

Even the partisan crowd, who booed and jeered every Lions kick at goal, had to applaud such a superb effort, Jenkins converted, the Lions led 17-9 and Gauteng heads dropped.

When Jenkins kicked a penalty in the 77th minute, the Lions had stretched their advantage to 11 points and Gauteng had been humbled on their own formidable turf.

Their injury time try cut their deficit to six points, but the Lions' second half performance got what it deserved. The tour was back on track and the midweek team had once more produced a performance to lift heart and spirit.