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
Currie Cup Log updated….
@Loosehead – 231
Too humble to harp on it LH, loads of ruggas still to be played over the next weeks
@K9-MonsterLeeu – 239
Thanks K9, Your team just never gave up. Just kept coming at us. Respect to the Lions.
This season gers more and more interesting.
230@Puma – Dink nie die Leeus gaan so goed wees volgende week as wat hul nou gespeel het nie. Hulle is nou uitgeskakel, het nie veel motivering vir volgende week nie.
@Treehugger – 221. Noo, stop there!! 😀
@Puma – 234-agree
@Loosehead – 222
Ja, ons het 5 driee gedruk en 16 strafskoppe afgestaan teen 1 vir ons!! Dis nou as jy Marius Jonker glo!!
@Scrumdown – 238
Please hope Lions play for pride and not do that. Don’t give WP the 5 points PLEASE………lol.
@SA Barbarians – :poop: you should be more confident.
There are now only 5 Teams left in the race…
240 @Puma – Noudat my span, die wêreldbekende kampioen Chokers, uitgeskakel is, stel ek nie veel belang in die res van die krieket nie.
@Treehugger – 247
Yip, they played well the Lions. Sharks just never had the answer today. Well I will take the win. Just that we may now face Bulls in the semi. That would be sad actually. Want to see Sharks/Bulls final.
Still next week. We have to travel to Kimberley. Hope we pick up the 5 points there.
@KingPaul – Check the results boet. :lol;
Must go, cheers all!
@bdb – 252
I know the cricket just let us down. Then again they did make us proud beating Oz in Oz in the tests. The first team to do that since the great West Indies team of 1992. So that is something special to hold onto. We are going to have one huge battle with England here at the end of year. Hoping for a great contest.
@Puma – dont want to meet the Bulls in a semi final. Dont want to knock them out and dont want them to knock us out
@Loosehead – 255
Cheers Loosehead.
Me too our of here for now. Going to settle down and enjoy my glass of red wine. It was just too hectic the last few minutes of the Sharks game. Nerves just got to me..LOL.
Back later all.
@Puma – 249
Ag give WP a break. So many Stars in the last 5 years, so many dissapointments.
Time to go and get slaughtered on Italian Beer, closely followed by expensive Rum. At least the tots in the local here are 35ml each, so a double 20% stroner than normal.
See you all…have a pleasant evening. Catch up soon
Bad luck Lions….
Bath against Harlequins now at Twickenham.
Goodnight everyone. GBS go have a nice doodoo. Carol to carry the female torch. nightnight everyone.
@grootblousmile – :mail: Byeeee……
@Treehugger – 257
I know its something like Boks meeting the All Blacks in the semi in the world cup. That is what is going to happen. Not good.
In our domestic cup I want to see the best team meet the best in the final too. Pity if that happens.
Well what do we expect when we play most of the tourney without our top players. Both Bulls and Sharks have so many Bok players that were on duty for the Boks.
Still have next week to correct somethings. Hoping. Think it may be another tough battle.
Now off to have my glass of red wine and relax. Will be back later. Going to watch some of the crici now.
Go New Zealand. Even if it messes my Superbru.
262@carol – Cheers Karlientjie… enjoy !
Crunch games next weekend for Sharks and WP!!!
WP to end on top, they deserve it.
@Scrumdown – 259
hahahaha. 35ml? Well enjoy it Scrumdown. Will give those WP a break promise. Now going to relax with my good red wine too.
Still some crici to watch.
Back later all.
@carol – Bye Carol for now.
So GKW moet 2 bonuspunte kry om bo Ctahs te eindig.
Indien WP 5 punte teen Leeus kry, moet die Sharks ook 5 punte kry en met ‘n punteverskil van 44 of meer wen, afhangende hoe ver WP wen. Dit lyk moeilik. Sharks sal moet hoop dat Leeus wen of keer dat WP bonuspunt kry, dan moet hul bloot wen met ‘n bonuspunt, dan eindig hul eerste.
Nou ja, volgende week skryf die WP en Sharks hulself af.
Dit is net die Bulle wat rustig deurgaan na die semi’s sonder enige moets en moenies. 😉
Donner maar hier is darem baie van julle WP haters hier oppie blog! Ek hoop eintlik ons terk die Bulls in die semi en dan die Sharks in die finale sodat ons julle almal se bekke kan stil speel! As jou span nie die finale haal nie, is dit omdat hulle nie goed genoeg was nie!
@Boerboel – 265
Big crunch time. Think WP will pick up the bonus next week and top the log. Sharks play in Kimberley and just maybe we too get the bonus but it means nothing as it goes then on point difference.
Good luck to your team Boerboel we may meet in the final and we may not.
Okay now really out of here for now. Chat later.
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