The Fidelity ADT Lions battled their way to a thrilling 26-25 win over Hollywoodbets Sharks in a hard-fought Currie Cup encounter at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Friday night.
𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲: Hollywoodbets Sharks 25 – 26 Fidelity ADT Lions
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) July 5, 2024
Victory in the Tank, a solid start to our campaign in Durban. ✅#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/P7S64PGHkK
In the end the result effectively hinged on a timed-out conversion from Sharks flyhalf Lionel Cronje, after the stadium shot clock erroneously had 90 seconds available for the kicker, when it was in fact only 60 seconds.
However it was completely his fault after the ref warned him a number of times that time was running out, before blowing his whistle to signal time up a second before Cronje slotted the ball through the uprights.
That was early in the game though and the Sharks still had a number of chances to win, but were thwarted by a solid Lions performance after they battled back from a halftime deficit.
The visitors were first on the board with a penalty to flyhalf Kade Wolhuter, but the Sharks were soon ahead after a slick move from a lineout saw outside centre Diego Appollis hit a gap and set up left wing Jaco Williams for the opening try.
In the 27th minute the hosts were in for their second try after good play on the Lions tryline ended with big lock Coetzee le Roux crashing over from close range, giving them a 10-3 lead.
The Lions hit back just before the break, working their way into the Sharks 22m, where Wolhuter received the ball on the wing, stepped inside a defender and went over for the unconverted score to make it 10-8 at halftime.
It was a flying start to the second half for the Lions as they attacked from their own half, with flank Jarod Cairns finishing in the corner, before Wolhuter converted and knocked over a 47th minute penalty to put them 18-10 up.
The Sharks countered again with a great attack and flurry of offloads seeing Appollis in to score, while Cronje converted and slotted a 53rd minute penalty of his own as they inched ahead 20-18, only for Wolhuter’s penalty two minutes later to sneak the Lions back into the lead.
Lions replacement hooker Morne Brandon burrowed his way over in the 64th minute for their third try, but Wolhuter’s missed conversion left them within striking range of the hosts at 26-20.
53’ | 20 - 18 | 3 points added on the scoreboard
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) July 5, 2024
#CarlingCurrieCup #SHAvLIO pic.twitter.com/4MhpDTUez1
This led to a breathtaking finish as Sharks captain Nick Hatton powered his way over with just over a minute left in the game, but Cronje’s miserable night with the boot sealed their loss as he missed the conversion that would have given them a stunning comeback win.
SCORERS
Sharks: Tries - Jaco Williams, Coetzee le Roux, Diego Appollis, Nick Hatton; Conversion - Lionel Cronje; Penalty - Cronje
Lions: Tries - Kade Wolhuter, Jarod Cairns, Morne Brandon; Conversion – Wolhuter; Penalties - Wolhuter (3)