The Lions got their Vodacom United Rugby Championship season back on track with a comprehensive 34-22 victory over the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The win is the third straight such win in three seasons for the Lions at Ellis Park against their coastal rivals, and not only puts them into the top eight (at least for this week) but also in contention for the South African shield.
Their performance was a long shot from the disappointing outing against the Vodacom Bulls a few weeks back where they were hopelessly outplayed. But given the history of the fixtures between the Sharks and Lions over the past few seasons, and the fact the Sharks were forced to rest more than a half dozen Springbok players, this was always going to favour the Lions at home.
The Sharks coach JP Pietersen, appointed permanently to the role this week, would be disappointed to start his official tenure on such a low, and it underlined the lack of consistency of the Durban side as they followed up two big wins over the Stormers with a performance that was way below par.
The Lions do a #VURC double over the Sharks 🦁🏉#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/TTkrCNEin4
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) February 21, 2026
They had their chances, and certainly had more than enough opportunities to go head to head with the Lions, but they were outplayed and out-thought by a Lions team that had needed a response to keep their dream alive, and found one all too easy at times.
The Lions forwards had the better of the exchanges between the two sides, and ultimately it was this domination that led to the big scoreline, as the home side certainly made the most of their time with the ball.
All this despite having no less than two yellow cards for head high shots, both downgraded to yellow with mitigation. But playing against 14 for 20 minutes of the game didn’t help the Sharks in any way. They squandered too many chances to be effective.
Chris Smith opened the scoring for the Lions early on, but it was the Sharks who had the first success in the Lions 22, with Jason Jenkins taking a perfect lineout take to set up a rolling maul that saw Fez Mabeta go over from close range.
Smith narrowed the deficit with another penalty and the Sharks were dealt a blow when Jaden Hendrikse, who had been excellent up to that point, was yellow carded for a professional foul when he went for a ball illegally at a ruck on the end of a line-break.
The Lions took control of the game with a double-punch within four minutes either side of the half hour mark as first Asenathi Ntlabakanye found his way round a ruck to burst off and score with momentum and then a remarkable try that saw some spectacular play from both Morne van den Bergh and Kelly Mpeku doubling up to put the Lions firmly into the lead.
Knowing that Hendrikse was off the field, Van den Berg chipped over the ruck for Mpeku to win the race and gather and did it a second time as the Lions moved 60 metres upfield, this time Mpeku winning the chase to pop the ball back to Van den Berg to score.
Bronson Mills was given his marching orders on halftime for a head high clash with Siya Masuku made the Lions pay with a penalty to go into the break with some hope.
The Lions went further ahead early in the second half when Siba Mahashe burrowed his way over from close range.
The Sharks lineout maul remained their best option as Tino Mavesere peeled off the back to go over and get them a bit closer.
Ruan Venter became the bonus point try scorer after Smith set up a pearler of a try, and Venter’s hard running was enough to surge him over the line.
Franco Marais followed to the sinbin with a similar yellow card to Mills, but it didn’t stop the Lions momentum.
At times the Sharks were unlucky. A beauty of a try by Jurenzo Julius was scrapped because Mavesere blocked Smith at the other end of the field, but the midfielder had the last laugh as he scored at the death to get his name on the scoresheet.
It was never going to be enough as the Sharks had squandered too many chances, and the Lions were celebrating a well-deserved win.
Scorers
Lions - tries: Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Morne van den Berg, Siba Mahashe, Ruan Venter, Conversions: Chris Smith (4). Penalties: Smith (2).
Hollywoodbets Sharks - tries: Fez Mbatha, Tino Mavesere, Jurenzo Julius. Conversions: Siya Masuku, Jordan Hendrikse. Penalty: Hendrikse.