Steady Sharks work their way to victory over Lions
Article Published: Saturday 21 February 2009
Editor: Rugbyweek.com
The Sharks comfortably beat the Lions 25-10 in the final match of Round 2 in the Super 14 but failed to score an important bonus point try that should have been there for the taking. The Sharks saw off a gallant but ultimately outclassed Lions side to win their second Super 14 game at the Absa Stadium in a hot and humid Durban.
The match started like a house on fire with the Lions proving that they had come to play and they were the first to get points on the board via a left-footed Earl Rose drop goal in the 15th minute.
However, the Sharks hit back around ten minutes later with a beautifully orchestrated try that eventually saw prop Deon Carstens score in the left hand corner for his fourth Super 14 try.
Then as the half headed into its final stages, flyhalf Ruan Pienaar slotted a penalty to give the Sharks a five-point lead, which they maintained into the break with the hosts certainly finishing the first stanza as the stronger team.
However, the break must have done the Lions some good as it was the visitors who were first out of the blocks, with winger Ashwin Willemse dotting down under the sticks within a few minutes of the second half. Rose added the extra two and suddenly it was 10-8 to the Lions. However, that appeared to be a temporary blip on the radar as the Sharks orchestrated a magnificent tryline to tryline touchdown, with scrumhalf and man of the match Rory Kockott (pictured) feeding centre Adi Jacobs who then made 50-odd metres before timing a perfect pass to winger JP Pietersen who rounded it off under the posts.
Kockott converted and the Sharks' five-point ascendancy was regained. The wily Sharks No9 was then on hand once again just moments later to slot an easy penalty from in front of the posts.
New Lions recruit from the Sharks, Henno Mentz, then virtually gifted his old side their third try when he dropped a pass, regained possession but then isolated himself before losing the ball again with the Sharks ready and waiting to exploit a massive overlap.
Athletic No8 Ryan Kankowski had to still show all his skills to go over for the try but when Kockott converted, it was 25-10 and the Sharks were home and dry.
They were still on the hunt for that try-scoring bonus point though and in the 68th minute, centre Frans Steyn came within a hairs breadth of scoring his team's fourth but was found to have just been in touch before dotting the ball down in the left corner.
In the end, despite having the upper hand for the final 10 minutes, the Sharks had to settle for the four points and will head on tour with their heads held high.
Final Score is Sharks 25 Lions 10 Scorers
Sharks
Tries - Deon Carstens, JP Pietersen,Ryan Kankowski
Penalties -Ruan Pienaar 2
Conversions -Rory Kockott 2
Drop Goals -[/b]
Lions
Tries -Ashwin Willemse
Penalties -
Conversions -Earl Rose
Drop Goals -Earl Rose
Cards - Yellow (77) Doppies la Grange
Man of the match : Rory Kockott
Match # 14
Venue - Durban
Time pm - 19.10
Referee - J Kaplan (SA)
Ass Ref. 1 - P Bosch (SA)
Ass Ref. 2 - C Du Preez (SA)
TMO - J Meuwesen (SA)
Performance Reviewer - A Schoonwinkel
Teams
Sharks
15. Stefan Terblanche, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Adrian Jacobs, 12. Francois Steyn, 11. JP Pietersen, 10. Ruan Pienaar, 9. Rory Kockott, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Johann Muller (Captain), 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. John Smit, 1. Deon Carstens
Replacements: 16. Bismarck du Plessis, 17. Tendai Mtawarira, 18. Alistair Hargreaves, 19. Jacques Botes , 20. Ross Cronje, 21. Riaan Swanepoel.
Lions
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Ashwin Willemse, 13. Jaque Fourie (V/C), 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Henno Mentz, 10. Earl Rose, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Willem Alberts, 7. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Cobus Grobbelaar ©, 4. Anton van Zyl, 5. Gerhard Mostert,3. Gert Muller, 2. Willie Wepener, 1. Heinke van der Merwe
Reserves:16. Hans van Dyk, 17. Lawrence Sephaka, 18. Rynard Landman, 19. Todd Clever, 20. Chris Jonck, 21. Andre Pretorius, 22. Jannie Boshoff.
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