Strong Sharks thrash Lions
2019-04-05
The Cell C Sharks proved too strong for the Emirates Lions and claimed a 42-5 win over their hosts in a one-sided Vodacom Super Rugby encounter in Johannesburg.
The visitors were full value for their win as they were the dominant side for long periods and a superb first-half performance laid the platform for this win.
Everything the Durban-based outfit tried seemed to come off during the opening stanza and they held a 25-0 lead at the interval.
They eventually outscored the Lions by six tries to the one scored by by Sylvian Mahuza in the dying minutes of the game.
By contrast, the Lions looked a pale shadow of the side who came into this match as the leading side in the South African Conference. They conceded numerous turnovers and made a plethora of unforced errors.
The Sharks hit the ground running and after Lions lock Rhyno Herbst was yellow carded in the 11th minute, the visitors opened the scoring courtesy of a well-worked Jacques Vermeulen try.
After that score, the visitors had the bulk of the possession and spent most of the half camped inside the Lions’ 22 thanks largely to the efforts of Bosch, who crossed the gain-line at will with several outstanding runs from the back.
Annemie Bester