Griquas replacement Ashlon Davids scored a match-winning try on the final whistle to deny the Lions a first victory in the Currie Cup this season on Thursday afternoon in Johannesburg.

Griquas took the ball through 15 phases before Davids slipped over, and George Whitehead converted after the hooter to complete a 23-17 victory for Pieter Bergh’s men at Wits University Stadium.

With the score 13-3 at half time to Griquas, Whitehead came out after the break and sunk another penalty for the visitors.

The Kimberley outfit were down to 14 men from the 54th minute after Zander du Plessis was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Jaco Visagie, who intercepted and raced to the tryline before he was brought down.

The Lions were finally rewarded when Tiaan Swanepoel went over in the left corner after quick hands down the line put him away, the fullback converting his score.

Whitehead earned 10 minutes in the sin bin for repeated infringements by Griquas, only for the resultant penalty for Lions to be overturned after Jannie du Plessis slapped the Griquas flyhalf.

A sublime grubber by Fred Zeilinga put Boldwin Hansen over in the right corner, and Swanepoel converted to give the hosts the lead for the first time.

Three minutes from full time, Griquas’ Du Plessis lined up a long-range penalty attempt but pulled it well wide, before Davids’ late score sealed victory for the team from the Northern Cape.

Whitehead opened the scoring with a well-taken spot kick before Munier Hartzenberg dotted down following an impressive counter-attack.

Sango Xamlashe ripped the ball from a tackle inside the Griquas 22 and offloaded for Hartzenberg to sprint clear from 80 metres out. Whitehead added the extras.

The Griquas No 10 slotted another penalty to stretch the visitors’ lead, before Swanepoel cut it back after his second shot at goal in the first half was successful.