In a thrilling round of Vodacom URC action, the Lions and Sharks secured crucial victories, narrowing the gap on their South African rivals. The Lions ended their losing streak against the Stormers, while the Sharks upset the Bulls despite facing challenges.
The Lions and Sharks made significant strides in the Vodacom URC standings with decisive victories in round 11, closing the gap on their South Africa n rivals. The Lions ended a four-match losing streak in the tournament and a six-match losing streak against the Stormers with a 30-23 triumph at Emirates Airline Park.
Although they missed out on a try-scoring bonus point and allowed the Stormers to secure a bonus point for finishing within seven points, Cash van Rooyen's team now sits just one point behind their Cape counterparts with two matches in hand.This includes their upcoming encounter against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus on Saturday, rescheduled from round nine. Coach John Dobson acknowledged the importance of the upcoming clash against the Bulls, stating, 'We have to win at Loftus to stay alive.' The Stormers, currently in 10th place on the log and three points outside the top eight, appeared to be heading for defeat when trailing 24-6 early in the second half. However, two tries and a late penalty goal earned them a losing bonus point, which could prove crucial in the playoff race.Meanwhile, the Bulls' performance against the Sharks has raised concerns. They were favored in both matches against an injury-plagued Sharks team but played below their best on both occasions, resulting in two losses. Saturday's 29-19 defeat left Jake White's team eight log points behind the Glasgow Warriors, who secured a bonus-point win against Dragons on Sunday with one game in hand. Coach Jake White lamented the absence of key player Hanekom, stating, 'We missed Hanekom's speed.' Despite missing several Springboks and being reduced to 12 men at one stage in the second half, the Sharks secured an unexpected five log points in Pretoria under the guidance of coach John Plumtree. This victory propelled them to first place on the SA Shield log (ahead of the Stormers) and leveled them with the Bulls on log points, although they remain fourth due to points difference. The Sharks will now enjoy a break before facing back-to-back matches against the Lions at Emirates Airline Park on March 1 and Kings Park on March 8
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