Springboks-laden Sharks lose again as Lions fight back to claim Durban success

Adam Kyriacou
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Marius Louw in action for the Lions.

Marius Louw in action for the Lions.

The Sharks suffered an eighth defeat of the United Rugby Championship (URC) season as the Lions came from behind to win 20-18 at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.

John Plumtree’s outfit had a chance to snatch victory late in the game but a wayward penalty attempt from replacement Boeta Chamberlain meant the Lions clung on.

The away win propels the team from Johannesburg up to eleventh spot in the standings, as they climb above Cardiff after what was the only URC game of the weekend.

For the Sharks, who had Springboks Aphelele Fassi, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Grant Williams, Eben Etzebeth and Ox Nche in their starting line-up, the loss means they remain bottom of the table going into the break for Challenge Cup action.

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The Sharks raced into an 18-3 lead with just 32 minutes on the clock as they looked to turn around their disappointing campaign in front of their home supporters.

A well-worked team score from Springbok Mapimpi on 21 minutes, which involved slick hands and saw Fassi put it on a plate for his team-mate, was a strong start.

Then an incredible finish on that same left wing from electric Springboks scrum-half Williams took the Sharks further in front, this after a drop-goal from Bosch.

But that was as good as things got for them as the Lions roared back impressively after the turnaround, keeping the Sharks scoreless as they chipped away at the gap.

The visitors were awarded a penalty try on 54 minutes before Sanele Nohamba sent over his second penalty of the game just before the hour mark to make it 18-13.

Then came late drama as Marius Louw’s try on 76 minutes – converted by Nohamba – put the Lions ahead before the Sharks’ Chamberlain missed his late effort.

The teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Joel Hintz, 19 Corne’ Rahl, 20 George Cronje, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (c), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 JP Smith
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Hanru Sirgel, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Rynhardt Jonker

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU), Christopher Alison (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

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