Lions fightback floors Sharks
Sanele Nohamba converted a late Marius Louw try as the Lions clawed back from a 15-point first-half deficit to overcome the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Trailing 18-3 at half time, the Lions overturned the Sharks’ advantage through two second-half tries – the second scored with less than three minutes to go when skipper Louw crashed over off the back of a rolling maul, and flyhalf Nohamba nailed what proved to be the match-winning conversion.
Sharks replacement flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain had an opportunity to be the hero but his attempt at the game-winning penalty sailed wide as the visitors claimed a riveting 20-18 result in the Vodacom URC SA derby, and became the first Lions team to win at Kings Park since 2017.
Two first-half tries, scored by left winger Makazole Mapimpi and scrumhalf Grant Williams, powered the hosts in front while flyhalf Curwin Bosch was on song with a conversion, penalty and a drop kick.
ALSO: Arendse goes the distance
???? Makazole Mapimpi scores the opening try of the match for Hollywoodbets @SharksRugby after a beautiful offload from Aphelele Fassi ????@Vodacom #URC #SHAvLIO pic.twitter.com/C7OXxwpVDP
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) January 6, 2024
MORE: Farrell to link up with Siya?
Grant Access✅
Crazy finish as the Hollywoodbets @SharksRugby lead by 15 ????#SHAvLIO | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/Szsr9T0oqB
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) January 6, 2024
Nohamba split the uprights from the kicking tee for the visitors’ only points of the opening 40 minutes, but the Lions struck first after the break via a penalty try, with Sharks lock Gerbrandt Grobler earning 10 minutes on the naughty chair for collapsing a maul.
Nohamba then made it a five-point game at the close of the third quarter with his second penalty of the match before nailing the conversion of Louw’s try as The Pride completed a memorable victory.
Both teams will now turn their attention to the Challenge Cup next Saturday when the Sharks host French Top 14 outfit Oyonnax and the Lions lock horns with Montpellier in France.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/INPHO/Shutterstock
