Sharks trample on Lions in Lions’ den

The Emirates Lions continue to struggle in their derby matches as once again they went down to a local side.

The Lions played the Cell C Sharks on May 25 in Durban and failed to convert their chances against the local side, going down 17-27.

Home victories by the DHL Stormers and Sharks have created a proper log-jam at the top of the standings in the South African conference as the business end of the 2019 Vodacom Super Rugby season gets closer.

The Capetonians delivered a polished performance as they beat the Highlanders by 34-22 at DHL Newlands on Saturday afternoon, after which the KwaZulu-Natalians outlasted the Lions at Jonsson Kings Park.

The Vodacom Bulls ended the Australian leg of their tour with a 22-10 defeat at the hands of the Brumbies in Canberra, and the Jaguares moved to the top of the local standings with a 23-15 win over the Waratahs in Sydney.

With three rounds to go before the Vodacom Super Rugby play-offs, the Jaguares top the SA conference with 36 points, followed by the Sharks (33), Bulls (32), Lions (30) and Stormers (30).

The Sharks benefited from two long-range intercept tries as they beat the Lions in an enthralling Vodacom Super Rugby derby on Saturday evening.

It was the Lions’ fourth straight defeat in a local derby this season.

The home team struck early on when Curwin Bosch pounced on a short pass by Elton Jantjies, 15m inside the Sharks’ half, to race away and score under the uprights.

Not long after that, Dan du Preez was driven over from a line-out maul and at 14-0 the Sharks looked to be in complete control.

But once the Lions settled and got more possession, they clawed their way back. Lionel Mapoe went over late in the first half, which saw the teams go into the sheds with the home side leading by 14-7.

The visitors from Johannesburg started the second half the way they ended the first, and 10 minutes after the break, Cyle Brink’s converted try levelled the scores at 14-14, setting up an exciting final half-hour.

Bosch extended the Sharks’ lead soon after with his first penalty goal, but the hammer blow to the Lions’ aspirations came on the hour mark, while they were hot on the attack.

Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi intercepted a looping pass from Jantjies close to his own try-line and raced away to score under the uprights, 95m upfield, which was effectively a 14-point swing. With 20 minutes to go, the KwaZulu-Natalians led by 24-14.

The Lions didn’t give up, though. Jantjies missed an opportunity to close the gap to seven points in the 66th minute and six minutes later Reinard Nothnagel sneaked over next to the posts, but the try wasn’t given as he played from an illegal position.

The visitors were playing under advantage, though, and Jantjies added the penalty goal to make it a seven-point ball game. However, it was a short-lived surge as Bosch added his second penalty goal to restore the Sharks’ 10-point lead with just over three minutes to go, and that is how it ended.

The other round 15 results:

May 24:

Chiefs vs Reds 19-13 (Hamilton)

May 25:

Crusaders vs Blues 19-11 (Christchurch)

Sunwolves vs Rebels 7-52 (Tokyo)

Waratahs vs Jaguares 15-23 (Sydney)