The Lions scored two second-half tries as they battled their way to a 19-14 victory over the Sharks in a pre-season clash at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
This match kicked off the ‘SuperHero Sunday’ double-header, and while there was plenty of pre-season rustiness in evidence, the Lions were deserved winners in the end.
Despite much endeavour from both sides early on, there was very little for an ever-expanding crowd to get excited about during an opening quarter that was blighted by some basic errors from the two teams.
In keeping with the error-riddled start to proceedings, it was from a loose pass that the scoring was finally opened as Makazole Mapimpi intercepted and darted from the halfway line to score in the 25th minute.
Makazole Mapimpi scores the first try of #SuperHeroSunday as @TheSharksZA go ahead against the @LionsRugbyCo.
Watch LIVE on SS1 & SS11.#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/K7zFJQiNY0
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) February 3, 2019
One of the few players who had impressed during a scrappy opening half was Malcolm Marx, unsurprisingly, and he barged over the tryline just before the break to help bring the scores level.
#SuperHeroSunday – HALFTIME:@LionsRugbyCo 7-7 @TheSharksZA
Mapimpi opened the scoring, but Marx levelled matters soon after.
?LIVE on SS1 & SS11#SSRugby ? pic.twitter.com/b2ajGWufzg
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) February 3, 2019
Not long after the restart, the Lions established further ascendancy when a neat grubber from Elton Jantjies set up a try in the corner for the ever-present Courtnall Skosan.
?That delicate kick from Jantjies
?The finish by SkosanThe @LionsRugbyCo go 12-7 ahead against @TheSharksZA after a touch of class by the flyhalf. #SuperHeroSunday#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/GlDGWTgi1w
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) February 3, 2019
It didn’t take long for the Sharks to hit right back, though, this time another Springbok in Akker van der Merwe, burrowing his way over the tryline in the 55th minute, and a successful conversion from Curwin Bosch edged the Durban-based side ahead.
With momentum continuing to ebb one way and then the other, it was next an error from Sharks replacement Rhyno Smith that gifted possession to Sylvian Mahuza, who dashed away for a try that sent the Lions back into the lead.
Sylvian Mahuza capitalizes on some poor handling by the Sharks as the Lions edge ahead in Cape Town.
Watch the final 10 mins of the first match!
LIVE on SS1 & SS11 #SuperHeroSunday #SSRugby pic.twitter.com/CNZCIFUpyk— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) February 3, 2019
The Sharks had one last chance to snatch victory at the death, but ultimately the Lions held them out.
Lions – Tries: Malcolm Marx, Courtnall Skosan, Sylvian Mahuza. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2).
Sharks – Tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Akker van der Merwe. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2).
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Kwagga Smith, Marvin Orie, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Jacobie Adriaanse, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smith, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Sylvian Mahuza, 24 Ruan Combrinck, 25 Vincent Tshituka, 26 Rhyno Herbst.
Sharks – 15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder (c), 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Luke Stringer, 21 Wian Vosloo, 22 Phepsi Buthelezi, 23 Grant Williams, 24 Rhyno Smith, 25 Jeremy Ward, 26 Aphelele Fassi.\
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
