We owned the Sharks - Mitchell

Johannesburg - Lions coach John Mitchell was understandably pleased after a few experiments paid off as his side retained their place at the top of the Currie Cup standings on Saturday.

The log leaders secured a 28-19 win at Ellis Park, handing the Sharks their second loss of the season as the title holders dropped to third.

"I thought the performance was very good," Mitchell said.

"What I liked about it was that we owned it. We owned a lot of the game.

"The commitment in the tackle and the spirit and just the way the players care for each other is huge.

"We tried a couple of new things in attack tonight that came off for us, so it is good when new things come off."

Mitchell gave credit to flyhalf Elton Jantjies, who scored 23 of the home side's points, as well as Michael Bondesio and the whole forward pack.

"He (Jantjies) controlled the game nicely tonight and I though Michael Bondesio also played very well, but that is always off the back end of a good forwards pack," Mitchell said.

"The forwards will probably put their hands up as far as delivery at set phase is concerned, but the way they worked for each other in defence was huge."

The Lions were left with two injury concerns after the game, with prop CJ van Rensburg nursing a shoulder and hooker Bandise Maku receiving 25 stitches to his face.

Sharks coach John Plumtree conceded that they had given Jantjies too many chances with the boot.

"Penalties was a big factor," Plumtree said.

"Conceding that many obviously put us under a lot of pressure, but I think some of the pressure the Lions put us under forced us to concede that many panalties.

"There were also some penalties that were a bit silly and we've got to look at that because in the past we prided ourselves in our discipline and it is letting us down in this campaign at the moment."

Earlier on Saturday, Griquas fought back with two late tries to beat the Free State Cheetahs 23-20 in Kimberley as both sides were left hovering in mid-table.

Western Province, meanwhile climbed to second on points difference, five behind the Lions, with a 24-13 victory over the Pumas, who remain the only team without a win, in Witbank on Friday night.

The Blue Bulls secured their third straight win, with the Leopards left trailing in bottom spot after a 28-20 defeat in Rustenburg.