Sharks record narrow victory over Lions at Coca-Cola Park
The Sharks, perhaps deservedly so because they created more chances and took them well, sneaked to a very close 32-28 Super 14 win over the Lions at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday night to keep their mathematical chance of a semi-final spot alive.
However, what was clear from this match before more than 24 000 spectators is that the Sharks will have to improve immeasurably in their remaining matches to achieve it and the Lions, still winless after nine outings, have oodles of guts and commitment without the odd bit of luck needed.
It looked like the old, old story when the Sharks, with some good creation of extra players on the outside, ran to a 12-6 lead after tries by Patrick Lambie and Odwa Ndungane before 15 minutes had passed.
While the Lions’ one-on-one tackles were reasonable, the defensive structures were still not in place early on. After all, there is no miracle cure despite the attentions of Ray Mordt over the past few days.
It did improve, however, and the Sharks scored only one try in the last 58 minutes after the score had become 19-6 when the Sharks pressure told and John Smit popped to Bismarck du Plessis in the 22nd minute.
It seemed like heartbreak time for the Lions, who had scrummed well, contested well at the breakdown and did their best in the lineouts – and this they did throughout.
But then the home side came back. After a botched Sharks attack on the left touchline, the ball was swung out by the Lions, who had a line of men waiting on the outside.
Full credit, however, to Herkie Kruger who had the vision and passed it inside for the willing Michael Killian who ran nearly 50 metres for his try under the posts (19-13).
Two minutes later, Carlos Spencer broke in his own half, Jano Vermaak was there to support and when the ball went wide Franco van der Merwe stretched over. The Lions were only one point behind at 19-18 after 33 minutes.
A Ruan Pienaar penalty on the halftime hooter saw the Sharks go into halftime at 22-18, and their bonus point try after Lions lock Nico Luus had broken out just for the Sharks to pounce on their mistakes and score via good work from Jean Deysel with Jacques Botes dotting down. With the conversion good, the Lions had to play catch-up at 29-18.
They started off with a 50th minute penalty by Kruger (29-21), but eight minutes later Pienaar reciprocated. At 32-21 the Lions, as so often this season, had a mountain to climb.
That they started to do in the 63rd minute when Derick Minnie scored under the posts following a poor lineout win that was resurrected by Jano Vermaak.
Kruger, who had a very good match, stepped inside, recycled and the ball came to the left where some deft handling from Vermaak and Spencer saw flank Minnie run over to under the posts (32-28).
The Sharks now had most of the possession, but for the odd breakout from the Lions whose defence held. But the home side was not finished.
With seven minutes remaining, the Lions pressured with all they had. The Sharks held out, broke out and the game seemed as good as won when they took play to the halfway line with only three minutes on the clock.
But the Lions came back, only for a good sequence of rucks to be denied by a handling error seconds before the hooter.
And that was that.
Scorers: Lions: Tries: Michael Killian, Franco van der Merwe, Derick Minnie. Conversions: Herkie Kruger (2). Penalties: Kruger (3)
Sharks: Tries: Patrick Lambie, Akona Ndungane, Bismarck du Plessis, Jacques Botes. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (3). Penalties: Pienaar (2). – Sapa
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