Cardiff marked their first game since the departure of Matt Sherratt with a bonus point victory to get their URC campaign off to a flying start.

In the wake of Sherratt leaving to join the Wales coaching team at the start of the week, his now former charges had to dig deep after falling behind following a 20-minute red card to centre Ben Thomas.

They delivered a stirring response with replacement hooker Evan Lloyd crossing twice and flanker Alex Mann also touching down to add to early scores from Thomas and full-back Cam Winnett.

The hosts gave competitive debuts to three summer signings as flanker Taine Basham and prop Javan Sebastian both started with fly-half Ioan Lloyd coming on from the bench.

New Welsh international Liam Belcher captained the side from hooker with loosehead Rhys Barratt making a welcome return from injury alongside him in the front row.

As for the Lions, they went into the game having just suffered last-gasp heartbreak in the Currie Cup final for the second year in a row.

Having been denied by the final kick of the game against the Sharks 12 months ago, they endured the same fate last weekend with the Griquas snatching the trophy at the death.

That defeat also came at a cost, with former Bulls fly-half Chris Smith – who has returned to South Africa after a season with French club Oyannax – sustaining a concussion which ruled him out of the Arms Park clash.

He was replaced at No 10 by Lubabalo Dobela, while there was a first URC outing for the franchise for wing Angelo Davids who has switched from the Stormers.

With centre Marius Louw having departed for Sale and No 8 Francke Horn sidelined, the captaincy passed to full-back Quan Horn as he led out a team sporting a new multi-coloured jersey.

When the game got underway in front of a crowd of 5,711, it was Cardiff who opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a cracking team try.

Just about every player touched the ball at least once in a sustained attack which went through several phases.

Having worked their way into the 22, they showed their clinical cutting edge, with Josh Adams going on an arcing run and Sebastian putting in a strong carry ahead of Thomas giving a little show before straightening and crossing near the posts.

Callum Sheedy slotted the conversion, with his opposite number Dobela then on target with a penalty to open his side’s account.

Midway through the half, Cardiff carved out another really well worked try. The attacking position was set up by Adams winning an aerial duel, with Harri Millard then breaking down the right before the ball was shipped over to the opposite side of the pitch via forceful carries and good hands for Winnett to touch down.

One of the big surges in the build-up had been provided by Lloyd who had taken over as hooker with Belcher having stayed off after departing for a HIA.

Fly-half Sheedy added the extra points from wide out to make it 14-3, but the Lions hit back with a converted try from flanker Ruan Venter who showed good strength to force his way over.

Cardiff looked to have responded swiftly when Basham dabbed down in the corner following bursts down either wing from Tom Bowen and Adams.

But, after a lengthy video review, the score was ruled out for head contact by Thomas on Nico Steyn in the final clearout, with the Wales centre handed a yellow card which was then upgraded to a 20 minute red card on review.

Three minutes before the break, Dobela slotted a penalty to cut the deficit to 14-13 which was how the game stood at half-time.

On the resumption, try scorer Winnett then turned try saver with a crucial intervention to deny Henco van Wyk when the centre seemed certain to score, while further heroic defence from Millard prevented flanker Jarod Cairns from getting the ball down.

But the Lions’ pressure finally told when No 8 WJ Steenkamp fell over for a try off a strong scrum shove, with Dobela converting.

After being restored to 15 men, with replacement Jacob Beetham stepping into the centre, Cardiff swiftly went back in front as blindside Mann spun over following a sustained passage of attacking and Sheedy again converted.

It was left to Lloyd to seal the deal as he crossed twice off close range lineouts, first escaping down the narrow side and then rounding off a powerful driving maul.