The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV claimed the 2024 Carling Currie Cup with a two-point 16-14 win in extremely cold and wet conditions at the Emirates Airline Park.
The result is the lowest score and closest winning margin of the Carling Currie Cup Finals for the last 10 years, eclipsing the 19-16 win margin of 2014 when DHL Western Province beat the Fidelity ADT Lions in Cape Town.
The match was balanced for the whole eighty minutes on a knive's edge with the Sharks securing the win with time already up on the clock.
The Sharks started like a house of fire, bombarding their host with several up and unders, pinning the Lions in their own half. The number of mistakes made by the Lions that are running from within their own 22m added to the pressure.
Despite the Lions' best efforts the soft mistakes they made kept them from any point-scoring opportunities although they were the dominant team for extended periods during the second quarter of the match.
At the halftime break the teams were still tied at 00-00 with the decision-making by both sides a mystery.
Following twelve minutes of excitement in the second half it was the Sharks' winger Ethan Hooker who blitzed past several Lions defenders down the touchline to score the Sharks' first points.
The Lions' response was quick from the kick-off when Nico Steyn took a quick tap from a five-meter penalty to level the scores after seven minutes of play in the second half.
With the wind in the back of the Sharks' Siya Masuku had no problem converting a 40-meter penalty after fifteen minutes of play in the second half.
A yellow card to the Lions' Juan Schoeman gave Jordan Hendrikse an easy target to convert a penalty for the Sharks to extend their lead to 13-07.
However, the Lions attacked from the kick-off and a bulldozing try by Siba Qoma wrestled the lead back for the Lions to lead 13-12 with five minutes to play.
With the Lions supporters celebrating in the stands Jordan Hendriks converted a sixty-meter penalty to secure a last-gasp 16-14 win for the visitors with time already up on the clock
Scorers:
Fidelity ADT Lions: Try: Nico Steyn, Siba Qoma. Conversion: Sanele Nohamba. Penalty: Sanele Nohamba.
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV: Try: Ethan Hooker. Conversion: Siya Masuku. Penalty: Siya Masuku, Jordan Hendrikse (2).
Teams:
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15. Quan Horn, 14. Rabz Maxwane, 13. Rynhardt Jonker, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Tapiwa Mafura, 10. Sanele Nohamba, 9. Nico Steyn, 8. Jarod Cairns, 7. Ruan Venter, 6. Renzo du Plessis, 5. Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2. Jaco Visagie (c), 1. Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16. Morne Brandon, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. Conrad van Vuuren, 19. Siba Qoma, 20. Raynard Roets, 21. JC Pretorius, 22. Kade Wolhuter, 23. Kelly Mpeku.
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV: 15. Jordan Hendrikse, 14. Eduan Keyter, 13. Jurenzo Julius, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Ethan Hooker, 10. Siya Masuku, 9. Bradley Davids, 8. Emmanuel Tshituka, 7. Vincent Tshituka (c), 6. James Venter, 5. Emile van Heerden, 4. Corné Rahl, 3. Hanro Jacobs, 2. Fez Mbatha, 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16. Dylan Richardson, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Mawande Mdande, 19. Lappis Labuschagne, 20. Gerbrandt Grobler, 21. Tinotenda Mavesere, 22. Tian Meyer, 23. Lionel Cronje.