A late try from Jaco Kriel was enough to give the Lions a key 34-29 victory over the Sharks in Johannesburg in what was a pulsating contest.

The Sharks stormed into an early lead but the Lions managed to pin them back and in the lead kept on changing hands in the second half only for the hosts to cross late on to break the Sharks' hearts.

The visitors had Curwin Bosch in inspired form and it was his long distance penalty in the 70th minute which gave the Sharks a slender three-point lead, only for Elton Jantjies to answer in kind with a penalty of his own to draw the game level. Kriel then crashed over with just four minutes left to win the match for the Lions.

The Sharks started well with Bosch's boot and a try from Coenraad Oosthuizen giving them a 10-point lead just before the break but a yellow card for Etienne Oosthuizen and a try from the Lions' Malcolm Marx meant it was nicely poised at 13-16 at the break.

Courtnall Skosan scored early in the second half to hand the Lions the lead but Jacobus Van Wyk crossed for the Sharks and at the 60 minute mark, the game was all square at 23-23. Bosch and Jantjies went on to exchange penalties only for Kriel to cross in the 76th minute to decide the match.