Wales winger Josh Adams took his tally on the British & Irish Lions Tour to eight tries in three matches as one of two hat-trick scorers in a 54-7 win over the Cell C Sharks.
Adams completed his treble a minute from time, after Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe, the top try-scorer in the 2021 Guinness Six Nations, had already done the same.
It was a fine performance from the Lions, who had to make some last-minute changes due to a player and member of the management staff testing positive for Covid-19.
That saw Ali Price, Owen Farrell, Louis Rees-Zammit and Adams come into the starting line-up.
And the latter three combined to send Adams over for the first try after just two minutes, Rees-Zammit popping up in the midfield and sending his Wales teammate clean through.
Van der Merwe added the second soon after, receiving a pass out wide by Sam Simmonds.
He was fastest to Farrell’s kick through just before the half-hour and Ireland’s Bundee Aki rounded off a fine first half with the Lions’ fourth try of the match.
The Sharks hit back early in the second half with a lovely score from James Venter, but Adams got the Lions back on track with his second, a true poacher’s finish after the Sharks lost the ball in their own 22.
Rees-Zammit showed his pace shortly after, put into space by Adams and then proving far too quick for the covering Sharks defence.
Josh Navidi had a try disallowed, his run in from halfway proving in vain, but there was still time for Van der Merwe to complete his hat-trick, sent clear by a lovely Elliot Daly flick on, before Adams did the same in the 80th minute.
