Sharks winger Makazole Mapimpi scored an intercept try on 60 minutes to set up a 27-17 triumph over the Lions in Super Rugby Saturday.
Photo from video
The Springbok leapt to catch an intended pass from Lions fly-half Elton Jantjies and sprinted 90 metres to give the home side a 10-point lead at Kings Park in Durban.
Jantjies had a nightmare round 15 match as another of his passes was intercepted by Curwin Bosch earlier and the Sharks fly-half raced unopposed to touch down and open the scoring.
A few minutes after Mapimpi struck, Jantjies missed a penalty that ultimately cost the Johannesburg team a losing bonus point.
The hard-earned victory snapped a three-match losing streak at home by the Sharks, who are among the most unpredictable sides in the southern hemisphere franchise championship.
"That was a really tough South African derby," said Sharks skipper and scrum-half Louis Schreuder. "Hats off to our pack who mauled and scrummed well tonight."
Rival captain and Lions No. 8 Kwagga Smith lamented the intercept tries, saying: "They cost us dearly. Otherwise, I thought we played really well."
Although the Lions lacked injured skipper Warren Whiteley, they were a vastly improved team from that humiliated 42-5 by the Sharks in Johannesburg earlier this season.
Centre Lionel Mapoe and flanker Cyle Brink were try scorers for the Lions - the losing finalists in the past three editions - and Jantjies kicked two conversions and a penalty.
Success lifted the Sharks three places to sixth in the combined standings while the Lions slipped one place to eighth.
