Curwin Bosch was at the heart of an efficient Sharks performance that saw them record a rare SA derby double when they beat the Lions 27-17 at Kings Park.
Bosch won the battle of the flyhalves against Elton Jantjies with 17 points and an astute tactical display.
While Jantjies had an adequate outing, he was let down by his forwards and also contributed two of the Sharks' three tries.
The Sharks' sixth win of the season saw them move from bottom to second on the SA conference with 33 points, three behind the log-leading Jaguares.
The Sharks made their physical dominance count with tries from Bosch and Daniel du Preez and should have had more to show for their hegemony, especially when Bosch missed a 12th-minute penalty.
But he redeemed himself when he intercepted an inside pass from Jantjies and motored 57m to score in the 17th minute.Six minutes later the Sharks translated their physical dominance into points when Du Preez crashed over from a rolling maul.While the Lions struggled up front, their backs were a handful when they had some front-foot ball.Lionel Mapoe's 31st-minute try was a result of silky interplay between Courtnall Skosan and Jantjies.Mapoe was the beneficiary of the move and the Sharks' confusion.The Lions though also had the bigger share of the territory and the possession but didn't have anything to show for it.The visitors though levelled the scores through Cyle Brink's 49th-minute try that had its origins in the backs.Aphiwe Dyantyi made the initial touchline break from his own half and when Mapoe made the secondary incision, the Sharks defence was fractured and Brink sauntered over near the posts.The Lions then embarked on another period of dominance without reward.It actually ended up in a 60th minute intercept try by Makazole Mapimpi, who snaffled a Jantjies pass on his 5m line and motored 95m downfield.It was a sickening try for the Lions to concede as they went through 16 phases before they lost their nerve. Had the Lions scored they would have taken the lead, but more mistakes were to follow.They had two crucial opportunities to take the lead through Mapoe and Reinhard Nothnagel in the 71st and 73rd minutes.Mapoe was scragged by Mapimpi and lost the ball with the tryline beckoning and Nothnagel's 73rd-minute effort was disallowed by referee Marius van der Westhuizen.Jantjies's 74th-minute penalty was cancelled out by Bosch three minutes later, condemning the Lions to another derby defeat...