Sharks sneak past Southern Kings, Cooper sees red as Reds thrashed

Southern Kings came agonisingly close to recording a first Super Rugby win over Sharks on Saturday, before going down 19-17 in Durban.

Last season's two meetings between the sides proved one-sided, Sharks triumphing 53-0 and 43-8, but the underdogs put up a much better fight this time around.

Converted tries from Ruaan Lerm and Makazole Mapimpi saw Southern Kings lead at the break, but Sharks - who crossed in each half through Lourens Adriaanse and Jacobus Van Wyk - snatched victory courtesy of a 71st-minute penalty from Curwin Bosch.

Courtnall Skosan scored four tries as Lions bounced back from their defeat to Jaguares by trouncing Queensland Reds 44-14 in Johannesburg.

The Reds were not helped by the dismissal of Quade Cooper, who was sent off for a high tackle on Rohan Janse van Rensburg early in the second half.

Saturday's other game saw Ramiro Moyano's hat-trick help Jaguares to a 41-14 victory over Cheetahs.

¡Vamos Jaguares!#JugamosTodos pic.twitter.com/GhYbF9UTeX

— JaguaresARG (@JaguaresARG) March 18, 2017

Jaguares and Lions each have 14 points and sit top of the Africa 2 Conference, with Sharks a point behind having also won three games out of four this term.