The Fidelity ADT Lions got a bit of revenge for their last-minute loss in last year’s Carling Currie Cup final, smashing the defending champions Hollywoodbets Sharks 46-5 in their opening game at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The gulf between the two sides couldn’t have been bigger as the Lions - comprising a number of Vodacom United Rugby Championship players - were way too clinical for a young Sharks side that survived on scraps and were overwhelmed for most of the game.
With a very dominant scrum, the Lions forwards laid a platform for the big victory and while the Sharks had the better of the first exchanges, once the home side got into gear they never looked back.
Winger Rabz Maxwane scored a brace of tries and made one for the most prominent forward on the field - Jarrod Cairns - as the Lions crossed the whitewash seven times to the Sharks' solitary score late in the second half.
It's revenge for the Fidelity ADT Lions 🦁🔴
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 26, 2025
They start their 2025 #CarlingCurrieCup campaign with a win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks 👏#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/1tyfXARWpa
LIONS STAR ACROSS THE PARK
Across the park the Lions dominated, with players such as Cairns, WJ Steenkamp, Darrien Landsberg, Rynhardt Jonker and flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela all enjoying exceptionally good games on the day.
The Sharks stars were Lihle Bester, who looked a handful whenever he got the chance, while captain Nick Hatton and Sphephelo Mbonambi both tried their best in a losing battle.
The opening try was an example of things to come as the Lions dominated, making metres upfield, before swinging left and right to expose the defence and open up the overlap for Maxwane to put Cairns in at the corner to round inwards and score closer to the posts.
Through the hands the Cairns scores 🦁🔥
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 26, 2025
📺 Stream #CarlingCurrieCup on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/NZp0CLb4TI
A break by debutant Angelo Davids sent the Sharks scrambling backwards and Nico Steyn threaded the attack perfectly with a kick pass into Maxwane’s hands for the winger to score.
PENALTY TRY
The Lions were awarded a penalty try after Sharks winger Phikolomzi Sobahle stuck a hand out to stop the final - and what would be a try-scoring pass to Davids - effectively stopping the try.
Sobahle got a yellow card for his efforts.
With him off the field, the Lions upped the ante. They found too many holes, allowing Maxwane to score his second before the end of the first half and give the Lions a four-try bonus point.
The second half wasn’t better for the Sharks as first Dobela extended the lead with a penalty and then flyhalf Jean Smith was carded for a deliberate knock down, although it seemed a bit harsh as he was wrapping his arms in the tackle.
TRY ON DEBUT
Down to 14 men again the Sharks struggled to stop the Lions, with Davids scoring on debut to take them further ahead.
The Sharks finally got onto the board when Sobahle forced his way over from close range, but it was to be their only good moment for the day near the tryline.
Sobhahle gets the Hollywoodbets Sharks' first try of the season 🦈🏉#SSRugby | #CarlingCurrieCup pic.twitter.com/jvSNLMsH9G
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 26, 2025
Jonker and Layton Horn added their names to the scoresheet near the end to balloon the scoreline and give the Joburg side the perfect start, while the Sharks will head back down the N3 licking their wounds and knowing they will have to toughen up a lot if they are to match the more experienced sides in the competition.
Layton Horn seals it for the Fidelity ADT Lions 🦁🏉#SSRugby | #CarlingCurrieCup pic.twitter.com/bgJqILT3tN
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 26, 2025
SCORERS
FIDELITY ADT LIONS - tries: Rabz Maxwane (2), Jarrod Cairns, Penalty try, Angelo Davids, Rynhardt Jonker, Layton Horn. Conversions: Lubabalo Dobela (2), Kade Wolhuter. Penalty: Dobela.
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS - try: Phikolomzi Sobahle