Currie Cup news: Lions down Sharks in Joburg

The Lions hit back against the Sharks to complete their second bonus-point comeback win in as many weeks in a Currie Cup match at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Trailing 12-5 at half time, two second-half tries for scrumhalf Nico Steyn, with a penalty try and late touchdown from replacement Ruhan Straeuli, secured a 34-22 victory for the Lions in the Currie Cup.

The Jaco Visagie-led Lions were fresh from a comeback win over the Griffons in Johannesburg last week.

Sharks led at half-time

On Saturday, Lions fullback Tiaan Swanepoel crossed in the corner to break the deadlock at the close of the first quarter, but the Sharks went into the break with a slim advantage after hooker Fez Mbatha barged over from a driving maul, and flyhalf Fred Zeilinga added the extras, before No 8 Thembelani Bholi burst through to dot down under the posts.

A yellow card shown to Sharks replacement Masikane Mazwi for deliberate foul play gifted the hosts their second try, and Steyn made no mistake when he ducked in next to the uprights for a seven-pointer following a period of relentless pressure from the Lions.

Bonus point

Steyn secured the bonus point for the Lions after following up an impressive Jurich Claasens break upfield, and flyhalf Vaughen Isaacs struck a crucial penalty and late conversion to make sure of the result for the hosts, with the visitors having a converted touchdown from lock Hyron Andrews and substitute Lionel Cronje’s two strikes at goal to show for their second 40-minute effort.

The Lions will now regroup for when they host the Free State Cheetahs next Sunday, with the Sharks and defending champions, the Pumas, set to lock horns in Durban on Friday.

On Friday, the Pumas beat the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, while the Griffons shocked the Bulls in Welkom.

In the late game Saturday, Western Province were due to host Griquas.