Mapimpi at the double as Sharks dominate Lions, give large Durban crowd Christmas cheer

Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi, who might have had a hat-trick, scored twice as the Sharks dominated the Lions 37-10 to give their festive Kings Park crowd plenty of Christmas cheer on Friday.

Mapimpi had scored a hat-trick against the Lions at Ellis Park at the start of the year in last season's United Rugby Championship and he clearly sensed there was more on the plate this time around.

The 32-year-old also scored twice when the Sharks beat Harlequins at home in the Champions Cup more than a fortnight ago and was clearly capitalising on his fine momentum.

AS IT HAPPENED | Sharks v Lions

Chances fell for the winger as early as five minutes in but he spilled a gilt-edge chance to open the scoring, knocking the ball on with the try line beckoning.

His opposite wing Edwill van der Merwe cover tackled brilliantly to force the error after it looked for all money that Jeandre Labuschagne had put Mapimpi through.

Three minutes later, Mapimpi atoned for the mistake, when he rounded off a patient but effective Sharks attack, which led to Rohan Janse van Rensburg breaking centre Rynhardt Jonker’s tackle and putting the left wing in.

After 15 minutes, the Sharks had their second try, again after multiple phases, with Boeta Chamberlain rounding off the move after good handling by Lukhanyo Am and Curwin Bosch to put the fullback through.

From the resulting restart, Labuschagne dropped the ball, which fell nicely into Van der Merwe’s path and the Lions winger merely had to control with his feet, collect and score the easiest try of his career.

The Sharks dominated the first half and spent a huge chunk of it pounding at the Lions try line.

But because of the Labuschagne error and some great Lions defending, the half-time score remained an