The Hollywoodbets Sharks succumbed to a last gasp try to the visiting Lions as they went down 23-22 in a tight Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on a balmy, blustery Durban Saturday.
The Lions started off well, but the Hollywoodbets Sharks pulled it back and going into the final moments, looked to have done enough to secure victory, but for a late rally from the tiring visitors who dug deep enough to take the spoils.
Early pressure from the visitors paid off as they kept the home side in their 22, before a penalty gave them the three points in the opening five minutes that gave them the lead, which they increased with the first try of the game when they worked their way out of their 22 and some good attacking options got them over the line a few minutes later for a 10 point lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
They extended their lead to 15 points moments later with a second try, but the Hollywoodbets Sharks struck back almost immediately, earning a penalty which was kicked to touch and then strong individual runs at their opposition set up a tryline maul with Manu Tshituka smashing his way over to open his team’s account and reduce the deficit to 15-5.
Conceding a penalty for an off-the-ball incident, the Lions were in trouble as a 5m lineout was perfectly set-up and the try-scoring opportunity delivered to a marauding Siya Kolisi and there was no stopping the Springbok captain, with Jordan Hendrikse converting to cut the lead to three points with 15 minutes of the entertaining half remaining.
A penalty eight minutes before half-time pushed the Lions into an 18-12 lead, but they would suffer a double-blow just before the half-time whistle sounded, losing a man to the sin bin for a dangerous, late, high hit on Aphelele Fassi and from the ensuing penalty, a great break from the fullback – over his knock – and then kick to the corner was taken by Makazole Mapimpi and then recycled before Jason Jenkins powered over for the third try, trailing 18-17 at the break.
Having had a try denied by the TMO, the Hollywoodbets Sharks continued to pressure the Lions who had led all game, the deadlock finally broken in the 58th minute of a tight second half following an OX Nche jackal penalty in the 22, a quick tap penalty taken, captain Andre Esterhuizen booting the ball upfield and Edwill van der Merwe winning the foot race to the tryline for the bonus point and a two point lead.
With the Lions wilting in the heat and forced to play with 14 men for the second half after the yellow card was upgraded to red, the visitors always seemed ever so slightly off the pace and spent much of the second forty defending for their lives. To their credit, they managed to hold out under sustained and immense pressure, Phepsi Buthelezi held up over the tryline just one such occasion when they were almost punished again.
But somehow they managed to draw deep from their reserves, scoring in the corner after the final whistle to steal an unlikely victory.