Litelihle Bester scored after the hooter to seal a 40-33 win in France, and JP Pietersen dedicated the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ Challenge Cup opener to former lock Hyron “Ice” Andrews.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks produced a stirring display of character and attacking ambition to secure a dramatic 40-33 victory over Lyon in their opening EPCR Challenge Cup fixture at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland on Saturday, dedicating an emotional last-gasp triumph to the memory of former Shark Hyron Andrews.
The match was played against the backdrop of profound sadness following the sudden passing of Andrews in France on Friday. Affectionately known as “Ice” to his teammates, Andrews was part of the Sharks family for a decade, from 2014 to 2024, making a lasting contribution to the club both on and off the field.
The Sharks joined the wider rugby community in mourning a player whose loss was felt deeply in Durban and across South African rugby. A moment of silence offered an opportunity to remember Andrews before the action began, with the occasion carrying a significance that extended well beyond the result.
For head coach JP Pietersen and his squad, the challenge was to channel those emotions into a performance that reflected the character and identity they want the Sharks to carry with them on tour. What followed was an enthralling contest in which the visitors crossed for six tries, weathered Lyon’s fightback and found one final moment of brilliance after the hooter to claim a memorable away victory.
“This is a really special win,” Pietersen said after the match. “Not just because of the rugby, but also with Hyron passing away yesterday. It was quite emotional. We will definitely dedicate this win to Hyron.”
A statement from the opening exchanges
The Hollywoodbets Sharks made their intentions clear from the outset, with the scrum providing an early platform. Pressure at the set piece earned the visitors a penalty, setting the tone for a contest in which their ability to generate attacking opportunities would prove decisive.
The opening try arrived through Litelihle Bester, who finished on the blindside after quick thinking from scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl created the opportunity. The try gave the Sharks an early 5-0 advantage.
The visitors struck again when Jaco Williams capitalised on a loose Lyon pass, intercepting the ball and racing away to score. Jordan Hendrikse’s conversion extended the lead to 12-0, giving the Sharks an impressive start on French soil.
Lyon responded with determination. Adrien Séguret crossed for the hosts before Monty Ioane added another try, with Paddy Jackson converting both to bring the scores level. The home side had found its way back into the contest, and the Sharks were required to show composure as the momentum shifted.
The visitors answered at an important moment before half-time. Forward power and attacking intent created the opportunity for Manu Tshituka to cross the line, and Hendrikse’s successful conversion restored the Sharks’ advantage. At the break, the visitors led 19-14, but there was little to suggest that the contest would settle into a predictable pattern.
The contest swings again
Lyon returned from the interval determined to take control. Lilian Baret crossed for a converted try, allowing the hosts to move ahead and placing the Sharks under renewed pressure.
The response was immediate. The visitors continued to look for opportunities to stretch the Lyon defence, and captain Nick Hatton finished a well-worked attacking move to put the Sharks back in front. Hendrikse converted, restoring the visitors’ lead in a match that was becoming increasingly difficult to call.
The Sharks then produced another telling attacking moment through Zekhethelo Siyaya. The fullback had been a constant threat with ball in hand, and his footwork, pace and ability to find space troubled the Lyon defence. His try extended the visitors’ advantage and underlined the attacking potential within a reshuffled Sharks side.
Siyaya’s contribution was particularly significant in a match in which the Sharks needed individuals to step forward while remaining committed to the collective effort. The visitors finished with 19 clean breaks to Lyon’s 11 and made 562 metres from carries, compared with the hosts’ 460. Those figures reflected the Sharks’ ability to turn possession into forward momentum and create opportunities in open play.
Yet Lyon continued to threaten. Gabin Lorre crossed to narrow the gap, ensuring the closing stages would be tense as both teams searched for the decisive score.
A finish worthy of the occasion
The Sharks appeared to have done enough to secure victory, but Lyon had one final response. In the closing moments, scrumhalf Baptiste Couilloud crossed the line, and Jackson’s conversion brought the scores level at 33-33.
After fighting their way through a demanding contest, the Sharks were suddenly faced with the prospect of a draw. There was still time for one final effort, however, and the visitors refused to accept that the opportunity had passed.
The Sharks retained possession and launched another attack. Siyaya again found space, helping to keep the move alive before the ball reached Bester out wide. With the hooter having sounded, Bester finished in the corner to deliver a remarkable conclusion to the match.
Hendrikse added the conversion to complete the 40-33 victory, sealing a result that rewarded the Sharks’ refusal to surrender and gave their European campaign an outstanding start.
The match had demanded attacking invention, defensive commitment and composure under pressure. The Sharks finished with six tries to Lyon’s five, while their scrum and ability to make ground with ball in hand provided important foundations throughout the contest.
But the numbers could only tell part of the story. The decisive quality was the visitors’ determination to keep playing, even after Lyon appeared to have rescued a draw in the dying moments.
A victory for Hyron
For Pietersen, the result represented more than a successful opening to the Sharks’ Challenge Cup campaign. It was an opportunity for the squad to honour a former teammate and demonstrate the connection, character and collective responsibility the coach wants to see from his players.
“You could see the fighting spirit and relentlessness the group showed,” Pietersen said. “We want to build connection on tour, show character and take our identity overseas. Today, you could see the fight the team showed for 80 minutes. To finish it off the way we did was truly special.”
He also credited the squad for the collective effort that carried the Sharks through a match that repeatedly threatened to slip away from them.
“If you look at the game overall, we deserved this win. We have some really special players in our group, and it was a squad effort,” he said.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks will take confidence from the manner of their victory as their European tour continues, but the significance of this particular result will endure beyond the competition points earned in France.
Hyron Andrews gave a decade of his playing career to the Sharks. He wore the black and white jersey, shared the dressing room with teammates who remain part of the club, and became part of a family whose bond extends beyond the field.
On a day when his absence was felt deeply, the Sharks found a way to honour his memory through their performance. The final try, scored after the hooter in a moment of extraordinary drama, secured the victory - but it was the fight, unity and refusal to give in that made the result so meaningful.
The Sharks left Lyon with a 40-33 win and a winning start to their European campaign. They also left having dedicated that victory to one of their own.
Rest in peace, Hyron “Ice” Andrews.
