Sharks snatch stunning last-gasp win in Challenge Cup thriller

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks snatched an extraordinary 40-33 victory over Lyon after the final hooter, with Lili Bester crossing for the match-winning try to cap a breathless EPCR Challenge Cup thriller in France on Saturday.

In a contest that swung wildly throughout the 80 minutes and beyond, Jordan Hendrikse pulled the strings, Zekhethelo Siyaya produced moments of brilliance, and the Durban side held their nerve after Lyon had levelled the scores in the dying stages through captain Baptiste Couilloud, before launching one last attack to steal a dramatic away win.

The Sharks earned a penalty with the first scrum of the game and then there were some fisticuffs after five minutes of play.

Jordan Hendrikse found touch five metres out, setting up an attacking opportunity for the visitors.

They tried to get the maul rolling, and Lili Bester went blindside to score the first try of the game. Hendrikse failed to lift the flags but the Sharks were ahead 5-0 early on.

When the dangerous wing Monty Ioane stormed through the defense and seemed to score, the pass to him was deemed forward. Lyon were swift to respond from first-phase play for Adrian Seguret to round the defense, and he had all the pace to crash over the line for the try.

Lyon came close to scoring another try in quick succession but couldn’t get the offload in the tackle to stick, and the Sharks got the feed-in on their 22m.

After 30 minutes of play, Lyon executed their set-piece perfectly, sending Monty Ioane into space off the lineout, and he cantered over for the try. Paddy Jackson converted for the hosts to take the lead 14-12.

With six minutes to go to halftime, the Sharks had a lineout five metres out. Lyon knocked on and the visitors had a scrum feed metres out.

They went for the line and Manu Tshituka dotted down, and after Hendrikse added the extras, the Sharks were leading 19-14.

The Sharks had two bites at the cherry as they went once more after Tshituka had a little break in midfield. But the Lyon defense did well to stagger the attack and bundle the Sharks player into touch near their line.

The visitors made a brave call after winning a penalty to go for the corner after the hooter had already sounded for halftime. But Lyon won the turnover, and they opted not to kick it out.

Sharks counter-attacked; Zekhethelo Siyaya ran into a brick in the form of Ioane, and the referee called time on the first half.

The Sharks made a change to their front row, and the first scrum of the second half did not go their way as they conceded a penalty. The hosts kicked into the corner rather than aim for the posts.

Lyon’s lineout proved effective, and after repeated Sharks infringements, the hosts took a quick tap and powered straight over the try line.

Jackson converted, and Lyon took a 21-19 lead.

From the kick-off, Siyaya showed his deft skills as he bobbed and weaved through the defense, making 30 metres, but they lost the ball forward in the ensuing movement.

The Sharks reloaded on attack with some strong ball-carrying at the line to shift the ball to the backs for Nick Hatton to get the last pass and run in the try.

It was anyone’s game going into the last quarter of the match, and Lyon had possession with the feed-in just inside Sharks territory.

When Hendrikse sent a perfectly weighted kick to the corner aiming for Siyaya, the fullback made no mistake and scored the Sharks’ fifth try.

The Sharks had it all in their hands, but they lost a crucial lineout and Lyon pounced, sending Gabin Lorre over in the corner.

After Jackson converted, they closed the gap to within seven points, trailing 26-33.

After helter-skelter chaos, the Sharks came out on top with seven minutes to go as Bradley Davids followed up on his own kick and scored. There was a call for obstruction by Sharks players. The try was scratched off.

With four minutes to go, there was a penalty to Lyon, and they tapped and went. But the Sharks won it back, and Davids cleared it with two minutes to play.

In the last minute, Lyon scored incredibly, by captain Baptiste Couilloud in his 200th game. And the score was level at 33-33.

The Sharks attacked and kept possession. The full 80 minutes were gone and dusted by the play-on.

It proved the dividends: Lili Bester scored after the final hooter had gone, winning an absolute thriller in Lyon.

Player of the Match: Exciting youngster Zekhethelo Siyaya made a full display of his magic and skills, scoring one of the tries. He dazzled with his feet and speed.

The scorers:

For Lyon:
Tries: Seguret, Ioane, Baret, Lorre, Couilloud
Cons: Jackson 4

For Sharks:
Tries: Bester, Williams, Tshituka, Hatton, Siyaya, Bester
Cons: Hendrikse 5

Teams:

Lyon:15 Gabin Lorre, 14 Alfred Parisien, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Adrien Seguret, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Baptiste Couilloud, 8 Maxime Gouzou, 7 Liam Allen, 6 Dylan Cretin, 5 Janse Roux, 4 Mickael Guillard, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Mathis Sarragallet, 17 Hamza Kaabeche, 18 Thomas Marceline, 19 Marvin Okuya, 20 Lilian Baret, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Léo Berdeu, 23 Thibaut Regard.

Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Lili Bester, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Ethan Bester, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Nemo Roelofse, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Tinotenda Mavesere, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Jurenzo Julius.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli
Assistant Referees: Daniele Pompa, Matteo Angelo Locatelli
TMO: Stefano Penne