Hollywoodbets Sharks XV fullback, Jordan Hendriske displayed impeccable Big Match Temperament when he converted a 59-meter penalty with time up to hand his side a gritty 16-14 win against the Fidelity ADT Lions in the final of the Carling Currie Cup at the Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

The former Lions man was called up to take the penalty after his team looked dead and buried, trailing by one point after the Hooter. The win sees the Durban side claim the Currie Cup title for the first time since 2018. It was an unconventional final that was hotly contested and physical in the first half as both sides failed to register any points on the scoreboard.

In the opening 10 minutes of the match, the Sharks, after several testing high balls were awarded two kickable penalties and instead of taking the points on offer opted for lineouts. Their bravery and risk-taking weren’t rewarded as the Lions defended both mauls and a series of attacks in their half.

The visitors were then dealt a blow in the 15th minute when winger, Eduan Keyter was sent to the sin bin after tackling Tapiwa Mafura in the air.

The home side failed to capitalize on the one-man advantage, and when awarded a penalty in the 22nd minute also opted for the line only for their maul to be well defended by John Plumtree’s team. There were waves of attacks by the Sharks, playing in the Lions’ half for most parts of the half, but they were let down by inexperience, decision-making, and handling errors in the final third.

Flyhalf, Siya Masuku also attempted a drop goal which went wide, and that summed up an underwhelming first half which ended 0-0. The first points of the match were eventually scored early in the second stanza by the visitors.

The Durbanites showed some flair in the backline to see Ethan Hooker dive over in the corner for his second Currie Cup try this season.

Masuku converted to make it 7-0, however, the Lions bounced back immediately responding with a five-pointer from scrumhalf Nico Steyn who took a quick tap, catching the Sharks defense napping to get his side back into the encounter. Masuku extended his team’s lead by three points with a penalty from 50 meters out in the 64th minute.

The Lions had to play the remainder of the match with a player down after Juan Schoeman was shown a yellow card for a dangerous hit on Hendrikse.

From that resulting penalty, Hendrikse stepped up converting a penalty to take the scores to 13-7 with 10 minutes remaining. The Lions refused to go down without a fight, and in the 74th minute scored through replacement, Siba Qoma, and his try was converted by Nohamba to give his side a 14-13 lead with four minutes to play.

The home side had the win in the bag, and instead of clearing the ball from a maul allowed the Sharks to turn it over and launch one final attack. From that attack, the Sharks won a penalty 59 meters out, stepped in Hendriske, and converted to steal the game for his side and win the Currie Cup for the first time since 2018.