By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Caption: Lions scrumhalf Morné van den Berg dives over to score a try during their URC derby against the Sharks in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images.
The Lions got their United Rugby Championship (URC) season back on track with a comprehensive 34-22 victory over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Johannesburg.
This result saw the Lions become the second-placed South African team on the overall log (seventh place on 29 points), with the DHL Stormers in third place (36 points) and the Vodacom Bulls in eighth place (25 points), with a game in hand. The the Hollywoodbets Sharks are in 10th place (24 points) behind the Ospreys, who also currently have 25 points.
After impressive back-to-back victories over the Stormers, the Sharks were favourites coming into the clash against a Lions side that had shipped 52 points in their previous match against the Bulls.
But the Lions were sharper all over the park against an out-of-sorts Sharks who made numerous unforced errors throughout the match.
The Lions wasted no time to open the scoring, as Chris Smith kicked a penalty goal in the third minute, but Sharks hit back hard with a try by Fez Mbatha 11 minutes later, and the successful conversion nudged them 7-3 ahead.
Smith slotted his second penalty goal minutes later, and after a scoreless rally, Springboks Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Morne van den Berg dotted down within three minutes of one another, after Jaden Hendrikse received a yellow card, which handed the Johannesburg side a handy 20-7 lead.
A yellow card to the Lions’ Bronson Mills for a dangerous tackle on the stroke of halftime paved the way for Siya Masuku to slot a penalty goal and see the visitors enter the break 20-10 down.
Both teams failed to capitalise on a few golden opportunities to score in the second half, but despite being a man short, the Lions’ solid defence and continuous waves of attack placed them in a good position to score their third try as Sibabahle Mahashe went over after sustained pressure close to the tryline three minutes after play resumed. Smith’s successful conversion increased their lead to 27-10 lead, which put them firmly on the front foot.
The Sharks struck back with a try by Tino Mavesere, but this was cancelled out by a five-pointer by Ruan Venter, which secured the Lions’ bonus point in the third quarter.
Both teams ran hard at one another with the final hooter approaching, and unfortunately for the Lions, Franco Marais was sent to the sin-bin, which injected a desperation into the Durbanites’ attack.
Despite being denied a try with 10 minutes left on the clock, they continued to fight until the final whistle with Jurenzo Julius dashing over the chalk for their third try, but it wasn’t enough as the visitors left Ellis Park empty handed.
The Vodacom URC returns with a full round next weekend, when the Lions host the DHL Stormers in Johannesburg, while the Sharks travel to Pretoria to take on the Bulls.