Wing Madosh Tambwe scored four tries as the Lions edged the Pumas 38-37 in an exciting round one Currie Cup match played at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon.
In a thrilling encounter which saw 10 tries being scored, the Lions overturned a 16-point second-half deficit to a win by the narrowest of margins.
There was little to choose between the teams who both played an attacking brand of rugby.
The Pumas took charge of the match and raced into a 37-21 lead at the halfway point of the second half.
The Lions though, desperate to not suffer the same fate that befell the Sharks on Friday when they lost to “minnows” Griquas in Durban, fought back with intent and it was that man Tambwe who got his team back on track.
The amazing comeback was completed late on in the game when flyhalf Shaun Reynolds went over and converted his try to ensure the Lions won by a single point.
Lions:
Tries: Madosh Tambwe (4), Tyrone Green, Shaun Reynolds;
Conversions: Shaun Reynolds (4).
Pumas:
Tries: Carel du Preez, Le Roux Roets, Etienne Taljaard, Morgan Naude;
Conversions: Kobus Marais (4);
Penalties: Kobus Marais (3).