In the lead-up to the game, the talk was about how a performance translates into victory and the Cell C Sharks were just too good for the Sigma Lions as they cruised to a 43-31 Carling Currie Cup victory on Saturday.
The Cell C Sharks created opportunities almost at will, controlling the game with their dominance of possession and the territorial stats and ran away with the result at Emirates Airline Park with a strong second half performance after setting the platform in the first 40.
The Lions got on the board first in rather fortuitous fashion when the Cell C Sharks lost the ball on attack in the opposition 22, the home side hacked it up field, chased and regathered to run in the opening try of the game just shy of the 10th minute.
But the Cell C Sharks struck back immediately, gaining possession from their kick-off and then running strongly at the opposition before Marnus Potgieter powered around the defence and over the tryline, with Boeta Chamberlain equalising.
There was some enterprising play from the Cell C Sharks to work their way deep back into Lions territory and although the ball was lost on attack in the 22, at the resultant scrum, Fez Mbatha managed a heel against the head and the impressive Cameron Wright exploited space on the blind side to score the second try with Chamberlain adding the extras with 10 minutes of the half remaining.
As the visitors continued to pressure the Lions, Chamberlain extended the lead to 10 points with the first penalty of the game. Given their surfeit of possession and territory, they would probably have felt the lead could have been even greater.
Chamberlain did add another three points with his fourth successful shot at posts, this one his most difficult, a 55m effort from inside his own half following a scrum penalty on the stroke of half-time, pushing his team into a deserved 20-7 lead at the break.
Counting in the Cell C Sharks’ favour was their excellent discipline, conceding just two penalties in the half and dominating at scrum and lineout time, the pressure exerted on the Lions producing good results.
The Cell C Sharks had to fight hard for their third try, but commitment, patience and heart paid off they smashed at the Lions defence with Thembelani Bholi finally getting over after numerous attempts and with an 18 point lead, the Durban side were well in control of the scoreboard.
However, the try was cancelled out when the Lions forwards emulated the Cell C Sharks effort with one of their own with half an hour left to play.
The bonus point try came shortly afterwards as lock Reniel Hugo did the unthinkable with a little chip over the defence for eighthman Mpilo Gumede to chase and he managed to dot down. Chamberlain converted and suddenly it was 30-12.
But the way the game had sparked into life meant neither side was guaranteed safety and the Lions struck back with their third try moments later, the conversion making it an 11 point game with nearly 25 minutes remaining.
When the Lions couldn’t clear their 22 without handling the pressure and conceding a penalty, and with the bonus point wrapped up, the Cell C Sharks opted to kick for posts to maintain a decent enough lead, with Sanele Nohamba taking over the kicking duties in the absence of Chamberlain who had left the field.
As they sensed victory, the confidence grew and the attack showed great promise. The Lions had little answer but to concede penalties on defence with Nohamba again sending the ball through the posts to extend the lead to 36-19 and beyond two converted tries with a quarter of an hour remaining.
The Cell C Sharks continued to hurt the home side, a scrum penalty on the half way line demonstrating their dominance and then from the resultant lineout drive, Dan Jooste went over in the corner off a 20m maul with Nohamba converting from the touchline and the half century of points beckoning.
To their credit, the Lions never dropped their heads despite the clear evidence that the game was lost and a good forward effort got them the bonus point try with 10 minutes to go, the conversion cutting the lead to 43-26.
With the Cell C Sharks down to 13 men with two players in the sin bin, both for high tackles, the Lions exploited the numbers advantage to score a late try, but 12 points behind, even five tries wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the game.
The Cell C Sharks remain unbeaten in the competition and will take a lot of confidence out of their third win on the trot.