Lions edge out Sharks with 23-21 win to set up semi-final with Hurricanes

Lions 23-21 Sharks, Emirates Airlines Park
Scorecard

A 77th minute penalty from Ruan Combrinck proved decisive as Lions came from behind to edge out Sharks by 23-21 at Emirates Airlines Park in the quarter-final of the Super Rugby 2017 season on Saturday.

Elton Jantjies got Lions off the mark with a ninth minute penalty but that's the only points Lions managed in the first half. Sharks bounced back through a touchdown from Jacobus Van Wyk while Curwin Bosch kicked a drop goal and followed it with a couple of penalties as well.

At half-time mark, Sharks had a lead of 3-14 over Lions.

Sharks suffered a major setback when Stephan Lewies was sin-binned at the start of the second half with Franco Mostert and Jaco Kriel capitalising on the advantage but Jantjies missed out on the conversions.

Lions further stepped up the ante as Lionel Mapoe strolled past the post and by the end of the third quarter the hosts had a 20-14 lead.

However, a sin-bin to Mostert provided some respite for Sharks, who responded with a try from Daniel du Preez as visitors reclaimed a one point lead.

Just as the game was heading for a tight finish, Combrinck capitalised on an indiscipline from Sharks to seal a two point win for Lions, who will now face Lions in the semi-final.