Lions wallop Sharks in one-sided Currie Cup opener

“Lions! Lions! Lions!” rang out around Ellis Park after the home team demolished the Sharks  46-5 in the most one-sided Currie Cup contest in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The Lions, who were beaten by a last-minute Jordan Hendrikse kick in the last year’s final against the Sharks, put the visitors to the sword with an impressive all-round display.

The Lions ran in seven tries, which included a penalty try, to start off their campaign with a bonus-point win. They were utterly dominant, and at one point it looked like men versus boys, especially in the physical stakes.

Wing Rabz Maxwane scored a brace in the first half after flank Jarrod Cairns had opened the scoring. The Lions went into the break 24-0 in the lead after they got a penalty try when Sharks wing Phikolomzi Sobahle was yellow-carded for deliberate knock-down.

Lions debutant Angelo Davids scored nine minutes after the break when the Sharks were given another yellow card, with flyhalf Jean Smith this time spending 10 minutes in the bin.

The Sharks had one of their best passages of play just after the hour-mark, finally keeping hold of the ball and getting through those half gaps to get over the advantage line. But a poor cleanout on the Lions’ line left the ball exposed and gave the home team’s replacement Renzo du Plessis a chance to win a penalty on the ground.

However, the Sharks would finally get onto the scoreboard after the Lions’ back division got in a tangle trying to deal with a well-weighted kick that dropped just short of their goalline. Sobahle gleefully accepted the gift by dotting down to score.

However, after that consolation try, it was against business as usual, with the Lions finishing off the match with a bang.

The home side scored two more tries, with inside centre Rynhardt Jonker and replacement scrumhalf Layton Horn crossing the whitewash to wrap up an emphatic win in front of their home supporters.

Point-scorers: 

Lions - Tries: Jarod Cairns, Rabz Maxwane (2), Penalty Try, Angelo Davids, Rynhardt Jonker, Layton Horn. Conversions: Lubabalo Dobela (2), Kade Wolhuter. Penalties: Dobela

Sharks - Tries: Phikolomzi Sobahle