Despite Eben Etzebeth’s Man of the Match performance, it was in vain as the Lions mounted a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat the Sharks on Saturday.
Etzebeth was exceptional throughout the game, but the Lions made a late surge in the second half to claim a thrilling 20-18 victory over the Sharks in their United Rugby Championship match at Kings Park.
The match was a classic South African derby filled with action, drama, and a dramatic shift in momentum. The Lions, from a significant 18-3 deficit at Durban’s Shark Tank, made an astonishing recovery.
The Sharks’ substitute kicker, Boeta Chamberlain, missed a crucial, last-minute penalty, leading to the Sharks’ narrow two-point loss to the Lions.
Marius Louw’s late try, converted by Sanele Nohamba, initially put the Lions ahead. As the match neared its end, the Sharks received a penalty, but Chamberlain failed to convert it into the three points that would have won the match.
Earlier, Sanele Nohamba had successfully converted Marius Louw’s try, giving the Lions a lead. However, Chamberlain’s missed penalty meant the Sharks could not capitalize on their final opportunity.
In the first half, Springboks Makazole Mapimpi and Grant Williams scored, with Curwin Bosch adding eight points, taking the Sharks to an 18-3 lead at halftime. But the Sharks failed to score in the second half and couldn’t stop the Lions’ offense, leading to their defeat.
Etzebeth, despite his team’s struggles, was a standout player, earning him the Man of the Match award for his outstanding performance.
This loss leaves the Sharks at the bottom of the table, while the Lions move up to the 11th spot.
