Significant Impact

KOLISI: SKIPPER PRAISES THE HUGE ROLE PLAYED BY THE SHARKS BENCH

- Nicholas Zaal

Sharks captain Siya Kolisi sung the praises of his team's bench, who brought renewed vigour to the side that held off the Lions in their United Rugby Championship (URC) local derby at Kings Park on Saturday.

The victory helped the Sharks lift the SA Shield for the first time.

The Sharks started well in the match in Durban but were up against it in the second-half, seeing the Lions claw back from a 17-7 deficit to lead 22-17 with 15 minutes to play.

While Kolisi had two tries to his name at that point, it was his replacement from the bench, 22-year-old Nick Hatton, who crashed over in the 68th minute to draw the scores level, even as Jaden Hendrikse missed the conversion.