The Emirates Lions could not muster back-to-back wins on their home turf as they were muscled to a 33-21 defeat by the Cell C Sharks at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

The visitors dominated the first half with three tries to the two of the home team and this was made possible by their superior scrums that overshadowed the Lions, normally very strong in the set phase.

The Lions’ first try, in the tenth minute by Andre Warner, saw the scrumhalf take a quick tap and go when he saw the gap and went for it. And it was just reward for the men in red who camped out on the Sharks goal line from the outset of the game.

But the rest of the first half belonged to the Sharks as they showed patience, not playing pretty rugby, but managed to get points on the board nonetheless.

The men in red lost their inspirational flanker Vincent Tshtituka after 30 minutes and his team sorely missed his superior presence.

Len Massyn was not only one of the try scorers but also made a try saving tackle on the speedster Makazole Mapimpi who was well on his way to score. Also big on the tackles were Lions forwards Ruben Schoeman and Sti Sithole who both clocked some monster hits.

Rabz Maxwane will rue his bad handling with three minutes to go as he raced toward the goal line for what should have been a sterling try, but it was bungled.

The Lions, who are now out of contention for a final berth, travel to Cape Town to face the DHL Stormers in their last Pro14 Rainbow Cup fixture in a mere formality.

Points scorers: Tries: Andre Warner, Len Massyn, PJ Botha Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (3).