Marx was massively influential in the first half, when things were still pretty tight. His two tries came from the back of rolling mauls, while he also won two crucial penalties on the ground with his ball poaching capabilities.

The home team got on the score board first through an early penalty try against the Emirates Lions when Sylvian Mahuza failed to intercept and was yellow carded in the process. Then Marx took control and the visitors went into the sheds leading by 12-7.

The second half started a bit slowly, and the Sunwolves closed the gap to 12-10 before Nic Groom showed great awareness as he broke close to the try-line after another strong Emirates Lions maul in the 52^nd minute.

Five minutes later, yet again after a strong maul, Elton Jantjies popped up on the blind side to cross in the right hand corner for another well-worked try, and the men from Johannesburg stretched their lead even more on the hour mark when Lionel Mapoe went over from a move that was sparked by a great run by Aphiwe Dyantyi, who had just come on as a replacement.

The Sunwolves finally breached the Emirates Lions’ defence in the 65^th minute when Rahboni Warren Vosayaco crashed over, but the visitors were not done yet and Hacjivah Dayimani got their sixth try in the 75th minute.

Vosayaco scored his second just before the end, but by then the victory was already sealed for the Emirates Lions.

Scorers:

Sunwolves 24 (7) – Tries: Rahboni Warren Vosayaco (2), Penalty try. Conversions: Hayden Parker (2). Penalty goal: Parker.

Emirates Lions 37 (12) – Tries: Malcolm Marx (2), Nic Groom, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe, Hacjivah Dayimani. Conversions: Jantjies (2). Penalty goal: Jantjies.