The Hollywoodbets Sharks edged the 10bet Lions 33-31 in a dramatic United Rugby Championship (URC) pre-season thriller at 10bet Ellis Park Stadium on Friday afternoon.
In a highly entertaining five-tries-a-piece spectacle, a relentless late surge from the visitors saw them exploit a fading Lions defence to snatch a narrow victory right at the death.
The Sharks opened the scoring early in the first half when winger Litelihle Bester crossed the whitewash.
However, the Lions adjusted quickly to the early pressure. They launched a fierce counter-attack to storm into a 19-14 lead by the half-time whistle.
The hosts carried that momentum directly into the second half. Former Blitzbok JC Pretorius struck just seconds after the restart to extend the Lions' lead.
The turning point of the match came late in the match. The Lions subbed several of their first-choice players from their 31-man squad to test squad depth.
With the primary combinations off the field, the home side's defensive structures faltered under pressure. This allowed the young Sharks backline to capitalise on the gaps and cross for two late tries to seal the dramatic comeback win.