In what can only be described as a breath-taking final, the Sharks scored after the siren to win the Currie Cup by 16 – 14.

In typical finals fashion, it was a low scoring affair.  So low, in fact, that the score at half-time was still 0 – 0.  Even a yellow card for Sharks winger Eduan Keyter after the first quarter of the game could not result in any points.

Both teams had the opportunity to get points on the board in the first half in the form of penalty kicks, but both teams opted to go for the corner and both failed to convert the advantage to points.  Sharks dominated territory and possession but could not convert it into points.

But fans who made the trek to Emirates Airline Park in bitterly cold weather, were rewarded with a sizzling second half. The Sharks had the opportunity to put first points on the board with a penalty, but Siya Masuku missed. Just two minutes later, Sharks winger Ethan Hooker was the first to score in the corner and this time Masuku made no mistake with the conversion.

The Lions responded quickly with Lions scrum-half Nico Steyn going over the whitewash and Sanele Nohamba succeeding with the conversion.  A yellow card for the Lions’ Juan Schoeman gave the Sharks another penalty opportunity, which Jordan Hendrikse slotted through the poles to give the Sharks a 13 – 7 lead.

With five minutes to go, the Lions’ Siba Qoma scored a converted try and at 14 – 13, it looked like the Currie Cup was coming to Johannesburg. But with 80 minutes over, all the hosts had to do was throw the ball in at the line-out, secure possession and kick it out. Unfortunately, they conceded a penalty which Jordan Hendrikse kicked over from 59 metres out, giving the Sharks the victory – their first Currie Cup finals win since 2018 – and their second major trophy for the 2024 season.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger