A full-strength Sigma Lions did enough to edge a game Cell C Sharks 38 -32 in an entertaining Carling Currie Cup match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday evening.
Despite their defeat to the full URC Lions team, however, the Sharks earned two bonus points and drew level with Griquas in fourth position on the log.
With one more match to play – Griquas play the Pumas while the Sharks are away to Western Province – the fourth playoff position remains undecided.
The match was won and lost up front where the Lions’ pack generally overpowered the lighter, less experienced Sharks.
Their dominance in this area was most apparent in the first 20 minutes of the second half when the visitors dominated possession and territory and were rewarded with two penalty tries.
Having started the second half trailing 22-14, the Lions remorselessly rumbled forward earning two penalty tries as the Sharks illegally prevented them from scoring close to their line.
In the process their retreating lock, Thembelani Bholi, received a yellow card for cynically collapsing a maul.
With the visitors continuing to pressurise the Sharks up front, it was no surprise when lock Ruben Schoeman crashed over for the Lions’ fifth try to open daylight (35-22) between the two teams.
The Sharks, despite their lack of possession, were always dangerous on attack and right-wing Marnus Potgieter steamed down the touchline to power over in the right-hand corner to reduce the deficit.
STRANGLEHOLD
The game now became looser, offering good entertainment to the spectators, but no further tries. The Sharks were awarded a last-minute penalty, however, that was slotted by Bonilla to earn the Sharks a second bonus point – to go with their first for scoring four tries – for losing by less than seven points.
Earlier, the Sharks opened and closed the first half with aplomb with debutant hooker Jason Alexander scoring a brace of late tries to put the Sharks ahead at the break after the Lions had had their scrumhalf, Sanele Nohamba, sin-binned for a no-arms tackle.
His loss seriously affected the Lions who until then had looked the more potent force, particularly up front where their heavier pack ruled the set pieces and tight-loose.
Alexander’s first try came when he was mauled over the line after a Sharks won a lineout on the Lions’ five-metre line; the second came after wing Anthony Volmink kicked ahead and showed lightning pace to reach the ball but the Lions managed to scramble the ball into touch.
From the maul following the lineout, Alexander showed good opportunism to dive over next to the left corner flag.
The Sharks had started the half much like they’d finished it with flyhalf Tito Bonilla kicking an early penalty before Bholi was mauled over the line after a Sharks’ lineout on the Lions’ five-metre line.
The Lions quickly struck back after centre Henco van Wyk was tackled, but he immediately released the ball and picked it up again to sprint over.
The Lions’ heavier forwards were now looking to gain a stranglehold on the match and the visitors took the lead for the first time when wing Edwill van der Merwe spectacularly burst through the centre of the Sharks’ defence before being brought down five metres from the line.
Van Wyk was on hand, however, to pick up the ball and dive over for his second try.
Despite their late burst of scoring before halftime, the Sharks were unable to sustain their counter-attacking verve in the second half as the Lions took control.
SCORERS
Cell C Sharks 32 (22) – Tries: Thembelani Bholi, Jason Alexander (2), Marnus Potgieter. Conversions: Tito Bonilla (3). Penalties: Bonilla (2)
Sigma Lions 38 (14) – Tries: Henco van Wyk (2), Penalty tries (2), Ruben Schoeman. Conversions: Tiaan Swanepoel (2). Penalties: Swanepoel (2)