The Sharks picked a vital first win of the Super Rugby season with a superb 32-20 victory over the Lions in an intense and very physical clash in Durban on Saturday.

Both sides had their chance to win the match, but the Sharks looked to dominate the match in the forwards, using their big men to test the Lions defence and sap the energy out of the visitors.

In the dying moments of the match, with the Lions on attack searching for a try to tie the game up at 27-all, the Sharks were able to score an all-important bonus-point try and seal the victory.

More to follow...

Scorers:

For Sharks:
Tries: Viljoen, Mvovo, Bosman, Botes
Cons: Lambie 3
Pens: Lambie 2

For Lions:
Tries: Taute, Dreyer
Cons: James 2
Pens: James 2

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Frederic Michalak, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Paul Jordaan.

Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Marius Coetzer, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Stephan Greeff, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Andries Coetzee, 22 James Kamana.

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Marc van Zyl (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

By Timmy Hancox