Lions make it back-to-back Currie Cup wins
MATCH REPORT: The Lions recorded their second successive Currie Cup win, beating the Sharks 34-22 at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Trailing 5-12 at the half-time break, the Lions produced a sublime second-half comeback for the victory in Round four of the Currie Cup.
Lions scrumhalf Nico Steyn backed up last weekend's hattrick hero performance with another amazing display, scoring a brace of tries to help his team get the victory.
Tiaan Swanepoel and Rudolf Straeuli were the other try-scorers while the Lions were also awarded a penalty try.
Fez Mbatha, Thembelani Bholi and Hyron Andrews scored tries for the Sharks.
It took 16 minutes for the first point to be scored. A break by Jarod Cairns made sure Tiaan Swanepoel dived over the line for the try.
The Sharks gradually got themselves into the game and after multiple attempts, Fez Mbatha went over at the back of the maul.
With less than six minutes to go before the break, Thembelani Bholi added to Sharks' tally after a great break the No.8 dotted over the whitewash.
Zeilinga finally managed to hit the uprights, 12-5.
The Lions ended the first half with possession but could not add to their tally.
Trailing 5-12 the Lions were desperate to score and managed to play in the right areas.
Eventually, they were rewarded for all their efforts with a penalty try after Masikane Mazwi was handed a yellow card for his tackle on Nico Steyn.
The Lions eventually took the lead, last weekend's hat-trick hero Steyn got his name on the board, while Isaacs finally added the conversion for the 19-12 lead.
Replacement Jurich Claasens bumped off a couple of defenders before Steyn cruised over the line for his second try of the match.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, James Venter produced a great steal which saw Lionel Cronje deliver an inside pass to Hyron Andrews for the lock's try.
Lionel Cronje added the conversion to narrow the deficit to five points.
With less the five minutes on the clock the Sharks concede a scrum penalty and Isaacs kicked over the three-pointer for the 27-19 lead.
Ruhan Straeuli powered over the line and Isaacs added the extras to put the final nail in the Sharks' coffin.
Man of the match: Lions scrumhalf Nico Steyn deserves a mention for his performance which included two tries. However our nod goes to Lions No.8 Jarod Cairns, who was an absolute menace at the breakdown, he defended very well but was also impressive on the attack.
The scorers:
For Lions:
Tries: Swanepoel, Penalty, Steyn 2, Straeuli
Cons: Isaacs 2
Pen: Isaacs
For Sharks:
Tries: Mbatha, Bholi, Andrews
Cons: Zeilinga, Cronje
Pen: Cronje
Yellow card: Masikane Mazwi (Sharks, 43 - Tackle player without the ball)
Teams
Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Stean Pienaar, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Ilunga Mukendi, 10 Vaughen Isaacs, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Peter-John Steenkamp, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Morne Brandon, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Jurich Claasens, 23 Matt More.
Sharks: 15 Yaw Penze, 14 Phikolomzi Sobahle, 13 Murray Koster (captain), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Alwayno Visagie, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Thembelani Bholi, 7 Jeandre Labuschagne, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Masikane Mazwi, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Devon Martinus, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Damon Royle, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Luyanda Mkhize.
Referee: Paul Mente
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Egon Seconds