Lyon cruised to a 34-21 win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks to secure their place in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarterfinals.
Apart from the opening minutes of the first half Lyonne was in a class of their own and scored four unanswered tries to lead 27-07 at the halftime break. The Sharks looked "better" with the wind in their backs in the second half, and bringing several great youngsters on, the Sharks looked a lot better.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks made a good start to the match, setting up camp in the half of their hosts. The Sharks' hooker Fez Mbatha scored off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul. Siya Masuku converted and extended their lead to 07-00 after four minutes of play.
Lyon converted a penalty three minutes later to cut the Sharks lead to 07-03.
Lyon upped their attack and pinned the Sharks in their own half, and eventually, the pressure resulted in winger Alexandre Tchaptchet scoring an easy try out wide, taking the lead for the first time with 08-07.
Lyon started to physically dominate, and when lock Theo William picked up the ball from the back of a good scrum and ran, the Sharks defenders were merely spectators, to score under the poles. Léo Berdeu added the extras to extend Lyonne's lead to 15-07.
Lyon's hooker Yanis Charcosset scored their third try, off the back off lineout-maul. To extend Lyon's lead to 22-07 and twelve minutes to play in the first half.
With three minutes to play, Josiah Maraku cut the defence of the Sharks to pieces to score Lyon's fourth try to lead 27-07, which was also the halftime score.
There was no score added in the second half for the first twenty-seven minutes of play, however, Lyon's scrum-half made a brilliant break off a maul to feed winger Vincent Rattez, who scored Lyon's fifth try to extend their lead to 34-07.
The Sharks replied immediately, scoring their second try with great handling and interplay, and Corne Rahl crashed over to cut Lyon's lead to 34-14.
With time up on the clock, Tino Mavesere broke through the middle of a lineout to run fifty meters for a great individual try, and cut Lyon's lead to 34-21.
Scorers:
Lyon Olympique Universitaire: Tries: Alexandre Tchaptchet, Theo William, Yanis Charcosset, Josiah Maraku, Vincent Rattez. Conversions: Léo Berdeu (2), Martin Meliande. Penalty: Léo Berdeu.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Tries: Fez Mbatha, Corne Rahl, Tino Mavesere. Conversions: Siya Masuku (2), Jean Smith.
Teams
Lyon Olympique Universitaire: 15 Alexandre Tchaptchet, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Theo Millet, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Léo Berdeu, 9 Baptiste Couilloud, 8 Arno Botha (c), 7 Liam Allen, 6 Dylan Cretin, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Theo William, 3 Irakli Aptsiauri, 2 Yanis Charcosset, 1 Hamza Kaabeche. Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Jérôme Rey, 18 Valentin Simutoga, 19 Killian Geraci, 20 Maxime Gouzou, 21 Charlie Cassang, 22 Martin Meliande, 23 Alfred Parisien.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Litelihle Bester, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Mwande Madande, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Bathobelo Hlakane, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Jurenzo Julius.