Nico Steyn scored a second-half hat-trick as a youthful Lions team came from behind to deny the Griffons a potential historic Currie Cup win in Johannesburg on Friday.
Both teams were looking for their first win of the campaign, but it was the Griffons who appeared to be cruising to a first Premier Division victory since 1999 when Jaywinn Juries slotted his fourth penalty of the match to give his side a 26-12 lead early in the second half.
However, the Lions took full advantage when the Griffons were reduced to 13 men after captain Duann Pretorius was followed into the sin bin by lock Mitchell Carstens. From there, it turned into the Steyn show as the 20-year-old scrumhalf dotted down three times in 12 minutes, with his first try coming in the 55th minute and his third in the 67th.
The bonus-point win sees the Lions get off the mark after successive losses to Western Province and the Pumas.
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