The Lions will host the Sharks in the 2024 Currie Cup Premier Division final in Johannesburg next weekend after the two teams won their drama-filled semi-finals in Gauteng on Saturday.
Currie Cup final at Ellis Park
Hosts Lions had to come from behind to secure a memorable 43-34 triumph over the defending champions, the Cheetahs, in Saturday’s first semi-final staged at Ellis Park in Johannesburg to reach their first final in five years.
Later in the day at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the Sharks sealed their place in the season finale despite drawing 40-40 with hosts the Bulls, with the coastal side progressing to the decider as they scored more tries in the match than their hosts.
The visitors outscored the men from Pretoria by six tries to four, with Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane’s dramatic effort in the second half of extra time the pick of the bunch as it levelled the scores, which was ultimately enough for the KwaZulu-Natalians to progress to the final.
Next Saturday’ Currie Cup final at Ellis Park will kick off at 16:00 and will be broadcast live SuperSport.
Playing first in the early-afternoon heat in Joburg, there was not much to choose between the Highvelders and the Free Staters, and the teams went into the halftime break deadlocked at 19-19.
After an entertaining first half, the match burst into life in a thrilling second half, with the two sides firing on all cylinders.
The turning point of the match was the introduction of Lions playmaker Sanele Nohamba as second-half replacement for Kade Wolhuter.
The versatile Nohamba scored a beautiful individual try under the posts, succeeded with two conversions and a penalty goal, and did sterling work to add extra sting to their attack in the latter stages of the match.
Ethan Wentzel was a constant threat in the No 10 orange jersey and was rewarded with two tries while also slotting two conversions. Captain and lock Victor Sekekete put in his usual hardworking shift, but they found the Highvelders’ second half intensity too much to handle.
Classic battle
There was high drama in the second semi-final at Loftus, where the Bulls and Sharks forced each other into extra time in another classic battle between the two provincial rivals.
The Northern Gautengers led 23-19 at half-time but the Durbanites fought back brilliantly to tie the scores 33-33 at full-time, despite playing with only 12 men at that stage due to two yellow cards and a red card to midfielder Francois Venter for head contact late in the game.
Johan Goosen missed a penalty at the death which would have secured the hosts a place in the final, and the game went into extra time.
However, the Bulls struck first in extra time when hard running wing Stravino Jacobs went over for his second try of the game to hand them a 40-33 advantage.
But just as it seemed that they would qualify for another final appearance, Nyakane took a ball five metres out and sold a dummy before dotting down the for the try, with Lionel Cronje adding the conversion to once more level matters.
However, there was more drama to follow when the visitors were penalised for a high tackle and with time up on the clock, Bulls fullback Boeta Chamberlain’s long-range effort fell short of the target, handing the Durbanites an extraordinary draw which was enough to see them progress to the final after they showed a huge amount of character and never gave up.
SCORERS
Lions 43-34 Cheetahs
Lions
Tries: Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter, Jarod Cairns, Marius Louw, Morne Brandon, Sanele Nohamba
Conversions: Kade Wolhuter (3), Nohamba (2)
Penalty: Nohamba
Cheetahs
Tries: Ethan Wentzel (2), Victor Sekekete, Cohen Jasper, Vernon Paulo, George Lourens
Conversions: Wentzel (2)
Bulls 40-40 Sharks
Bulls
Tries: Stravino Jacobs (2), Cameron Hanekom, Keagan Johannes
Conversions: Johan Goosen (3), Boeta Chamberlain
Penalties: Goosen (4)
Sharks
Tries: Emile van Heerden, James Venter, Bradley Davids, Ethan Hooker, André Esterhuizen, Trevor Nyakane
Conversions: Siya Masuku (4), Lionel Cronje
