Lions down Sharks in closely-fought Super Rugby warm-up

Cape Town - The Lions have beaten the Sharks 19-14 in a Super Rugby warm-up match played at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.

The Sharks were first to score with winger Makazole Mapimpi speeding away for an intercept try in the 24th minute.

Curwin Bosch added the extras for the coastal side to lead 7-0.

The Lions hit back through Malcolm Marx after a relentless waves of attacks in the 35th minute.

Elton Jantjies converted as the two teams went into half-time locked at 7-7. 

The Lions took the lead early in the second half when winter Courtnall Skosan crossed the whitewash for a unconverted try and a 12-7 lead on 50 minutes. 

Akker van der Merwe then put the Sharks back into a 14-12 in the 55th minute thanks to a converted try after he drove over from a 5 meter lineout. 

The Lions were back in the lead in the after winger Sylvian Mahuza pounced on a loose pass to score.

Jantjies slotted the conversion to give the Lions a 19-14 lead in the 67th minute. 

Despite relentless pressure in the final 10 minutes of the match, the Sharks were unable to breach a resolute Lions defence.

Scorers

Sharks

Tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Akker vd Merwe

Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2)

Lions

Tries: Malcolm Marx, Courtnall Skosan, Sylvian Mahuza

Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2)

Teams

Sharks

15 Lwazi Mvovo, 14 S'bu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Juan Schoeman

Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Luke Stringer, 21 Wian Vosloo, 22 Phepsi Buthelezi, 23 Cameron Wright

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith

Substitutes: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Danie Minnie, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Jacobie Adriaanse, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smith, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Sylvian Mahuza, 24 Ruan Combrinck, 25 Vincent Tshituka, 26 Rhyno Herbst