The Sharks took on The Lions in round 2 of the Currie Cup this afternoon at Newlands. The Sharks won a nail-biter by 2 points… 19 / 17 falling in the process to 2nd spot on the Log.
With permission from the official Sharks web site to use their match summaries, here is their view on this afternoon’s game:
The Sharks continued their impressive season with a hard-earned 19-17 victory over the visiting Xerox Lions at The Absa Stadium Durban on Saturday evening with the visitors certainly coming to Durban full of intent.
Both sides came into this game under pressure – this wouldn’t really have eased for either side, The Sharks failing to gain a bonus point which let Western Province slip above them on the log, the teams even on log points but Province enjoying a better points’ differential while the Lions cling to a smallest hopes of a semifinal spot with one round of the pool stages remaining.
Following their 30-19 victory in the first round, The Sharks didn’t quite have matters all their own way against a hugely competitive Lions side fighting the battle of their lives in their quest to remain within striking distance of a semifinal place.
As it is, they face Western Province in the last pool match next week, the Capetonians having leap-frogged the Sharks on the log but face an uphill battle to retain top spot if the Lions are as competitive at Coca-Cola Park next week as they were against The Sharks here today.
The lead see-sawed between the two teams for the entire match and the battle of the breakdown where numerous turnovers from both sides were effected was immense. With neither side really able to capitalise on attack in the first half aside from a few well-taken penalties from either side as well as a drop goal from Juan Hernandez the first half was a tightly-contested affair.
The Sharks finally came good after threatening for extended periods of the game when Nico Luus was sin-binned after his team had committed numerous infringements at the breakdown and with the penalty came a drive that had hooker Bismarck du Plessis in possession at the back of the maul and with the conversion, The Sharks had taken a small lead.
The visitors managed to cut the margin of deficit to just five points at the break after earning a penalty after the hooter had sounded and with Herkie Kruger converting, The Sharks led 16-11 at the end of the half.
Two penalties to one saw the visitors finish the second half the better, but The Sharks had done enough in the game to maintain their slender lead. The defences were tested severely in the final 40 minutes and although both side missed a few opportunities to score, the scramble defence was outstanding from both sides.
They each had their opportunities on attack, it must be said, but it was probably more a case of great defence than poor attack that kept the respective try-lines intact in the second half, neither able to penetrate the other’s wall of defenders.
The Sharks go into the final week knowing that a five pointer against Griquas, of a similar margin to The Blue Bulls 61-27 defeat of the Kimberley side earlier today, could mean the difference between first and second place on the log – and the Lions doing The Sharks a big favour by beating Province next week – or restricting them to just four log points.
However, today’s win guarantees The Sharks home ground status in the semifinals, the third-placed Blue Bulls unable to catch them regardless of the final weekend’s results.
Captain Stefan Terblanche admitted afterwards that, “It was a very tough game, you have to hand to the Lions who came here for a game of rugby. Although we wanted a bonus point win, first you have to win the game and credit to the Lions who played as if their lives depended on it.
“From this game, we know we can work on our lineouts, setpieces and our work at the breakdowns, they turned us over on the ground a few times. We have Griquas next week and it is always tough in Kimberley, but Province have to play the Lions next week, and that will be tough, hopefully the Lions can come to the party.”
Crowd: 23 998
Points:
Sharks: 3 Penalties & 1 Conversion Ruan Pienaar, 1 Drop Goal Juan Hernandez, Try Bismarck du Plessis
Lions: 3 Penalties Herkie Kruger, 1 Penalty Chris Jonck, Try Chris Jonck
Teams:
The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Juan Hernandez, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
Golden Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jannie Boshoff, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Torrie Meyer, 17 Wayne Swart, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Todd Clever, 20 Ruan Boshoff, 21 Walter Venter, 22 Pieter Engelbrecht.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu*&*^&^%k
So close on both ends….
Tjarks butcher a certain try.
Eishhhhhhhhhhhh…
Helter skelter rugby…. almost a try for the Tjarkies
Okay too much nerves right now. Rather just sit here at the pc and talk to you okes until the game is done…..Jeepers its close.
@carol – Such a dirty mind. I like that.
Looks like the Sharks will escape here with a 2-point win….
@carol – 210
bwaahahaha Brilliant!!!!!
Come On BOYS
@grootblousmile – 213
Too much trying to run with it. Instead should have slowed it down. Crazy stuff out there.
Boet it might be a Bulls/Sharks semi. Hoping not. Want us in the final.
Congrats, and well done to the SHARKS.
So damm close,
@carol – Well it awakens with a keyboard imprint on the unshaven cheek, a bit of drool and bloodshot eyes hahahahah. Your turn
WP to be at the top of the log, which might just mean a WP / Cheetahs semi……we all remember what happened the last time that they met.
Well done Sharks, just. :poop:
Netjies game, goed gedoen Sardyne om die Lions uit te hou!!
Tjarkies win
Congrats Sharks
Congrats also to a very game Lions side… who’s Currie Cup Race is now run…. cheers Lions
@Loosehead – Who me…? :blush:
K9, your team did well.
Congrats to the Sharks.
Phew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was close. Now going to sit with a nice glass of red wine and relax. A win is a win.
Just now may be Bulls/Sharks semi. Pity if that happens. Want a Bulls/Sharks final.
@SA Barbarians – Why thank you and thanks for the :mail: !!
aaaah, now I am going to refresh my drink and wait for GBS to update the CC Log so I can study it in depth……….. 🙂
@Boerboel – 226
Thanks Boerboel, But Sharks were not that good today. I will take the win though. It was very close.
Hope your team is prepared for these Lions next week at Ellis Park.
SAB how is the view from the top of the log? See comment 222
You know, I could just feel the tension 5,000 miles away just through your posts!!
Well done Sharks, but WOW The Lions really made you Sharks fans sweat!! Much better when the games are close!
@Puma – Hope so too Puma!! I think and go and watch
@grootblousmile – 224
GBS boet, I hope its not a Bulls/Sharks semi that would be like the final before the final. Pity.
Well done Sharks and tough luck Lions, you could so easily have won this game. These Lions will be tough next year
So dit lyk asof die log so kan eindig:
WP
Sharks
Bulle
Cheetahs/GW
Hoop net Habana, Bakkies en FDP is reg vir semi’s.
That was not an enjoyable game to watch, if we carry on playing like limp wristed poofs we deserve to loose. :razzmad:
Well I suppose a slap on the aaarse is better than a poke in the eye with a sherp stick, but a close loss is still a loss.
Lions can just as well pull out of next week’s game and give WP the 5 points. At least they won’t get any long term injuries.
Timne for Manie Reyneke and Kevin de Klerk to get the cheque book out and buy buy buy.
All of the top 4 have looked vunerable agains half decent opposition of late. CC is wide open ladies and gents. There for the taking.
Congrats Tjarks!!!!
@Boerboel – 233
Also how is NZ today in the cricket? Think they going to beat Paki. Never thought that would happen.
My SuperBru will be dreadful after the game today if that happens.
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