The Hollywoodbets Sharks gave the Emirates Lions the same hostile welcome to Hollywoodbets Kings Park as they received last week as they took a 25-22 Vodacom United Rugby Championship bonus point victory over their visitors on Saturday afternoon.
The five points they took from the game also ensured silverware as they now lift the SA Shield as the top South African side across the local derby competition.
South African derby games always have an added element of competitiveness to them and this match was no different as the Emirates Lins chased the double over the Durban side and the Hollywoodbets Sharks chased the win that would entrench their fourth-place on the overall log.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks showed the immense value of counter-attack when the Emirates Lions lost the ball on attack on the home side 22, and quickly spread the ball wide with Yaw Penxe making strong yards before feeding Grant Williams and no-one was going to catch the speedy scrumhalf as he scored the opening try inside five minutes of play.
The Emirates Lions struck back immediately from the kick-off, capitalising on an attacking scrum and scoring a converted try in the corner for a 7-5 lead.
The game was played at a frenetic pace but give the 30C temps and humidity of the lingering Durban summer, it certainly tested fitness and ball handling, the soapy nature making it difficult for both sides.
Unlike last week when the Hollywoodbets Sharks were chasing the game, they were clearly on top, but had lost out on three scoring opportunities on or close to the line, before captain Siya Kolisi smashed his way over with five minutes remaining after a sustained attack and a scrum penalty gave his side the advantage, with the conversion giving the Durban side a 12-7 lead.
They held on to possession and gave the Emirates Lions a late scare, but the visitors managed to successfully negotiate the five-point deficit as the teams headed into the changerooms for a welcome half-time breather.
The second half started off on a positive note with the Emirates Lions under pressure early on and conceding a second Kolisi try, this time a set move off an attacking lineout and again there was no stopping the Bok captain from close quarters as the Hollywoodbets Sharks took a 10-point lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
But again the visitors struck back almost immediately, taking the ball down the right flank and then having the numbers to score out wide, cutting the lead to five points.
The Emirates Lions cut the lead further with a penalty for a high tackle, trailing 17-15 with the final quarter left to play and then took the lead for the first time in the game with 15 minutes remaining, a penalty kicked to touch and then the ball mauled over the tryline in the corner, the touchline conversion giving them a 22-17 lead.
The response was effective as it was immediate, a scrum penalty after the Emirates Lions had fluffed the kick-off receipt and from the ensuing attack, Nick Hatton was simply too powerful for the defence as he managed to drive and then dot down for a TMO referred try to tie the score at 22-apiece.
Jaden Hendrikse pushed his side into a three-point lead with a penalty after the visitors had conceded numerous cynical penalties in defence of their tryline as the game hit the final five minutes and everything for both sides to play for.
The Emirates Lions nearly had the last say as they hammered away at the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ tryline, but a knock-on killed their momentum and the home side had the ability and composure to close out a hugely-competitive game.