Star-studded Sharks hold of willing Lions in 11-try thriller
URC MATCH REPORT: The Sharks held off a second-half charge by the Lions to score a 47-37 win in an 11-try thriller at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Outscoring their hists by six tries to five, the Sharks went back to the top of the South African conference in the United Rugby Championship a position held by the Lions at the start of the match.
The sixth try, right on the full-time hooter, also denied the Lions a second bonus point.
The Lions were their own worst enemies in the first half, conceding a number of turnovers – which allowed the Sharks to collect a try-scoring bonus point before the break.
It did not improve much after the break and their line-outs were a mess as well, costing them a number of opportunities.
It was one of those turnovers that eventually gifted the Sharks their sixth try and cost the Lions a possible win and ultimately an additional bonus point.
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The Sharks opened the scoring with a Boeta Chamberlain penalty, before Lions flyhalf Fred Zeilinga opened the Sharks defence and sent scrumhalf Andre Warner over for the first try. Zeilinga’s conversion gave the hosts the lead.
Almost from the restart, a kick-and-chase saw centre Wandisile Simelane sprint over for a second five-pointer. This time Zeilinga was wide with the conversion attempt – 12-3 after just over 10 minutes.
The Sharks hit straight back when, from a scrum, the backs exposed the Lions’ defensive line and Aphelele Fassi sprinted over for the visitors’ first try. Chamberlain added the conversion – 10-12 after 16 minutes.
That became 15-12, when Lukhanyo Am put through a sweetly-struck grubber and Makazole Mapimpi pounced for the try. Chamberlain was wide with the conversion attempt.
Again the Lions hit back straight away – Francke Horn pouncing on a ball from a pass by Edwill van der Merwe. However, the TMO and referee decided the pass was ‘forward’.
Zeilinga levelled the scores (at 15-all) with a penalty minutes later, after a great up-and-under left Chamberlain exposed on his own.
The Lions went back in front with another penalty, after the Sharks went offside deep inside their 22.
The Sharks reclaimed the lead just past the half-hour mark, hooker Kerron van Vuuren getting an armchair ride from a strong maul. Chamberlain was again wide with the conversion attempt – 20-18.
Mapimpi got the bonus-point try just before the break, after the Sharks – from a turnover – went wide quickly and found acres of space on the left. Chamberlain slotted the conversion – 27-18.
That was also the half-time score.
That became 30-18 with a Chamberlain penalty early in the second half.
The Lions did not give up the chase and on the 50-minute mark lock Ruben Schoeman barged over from close range after a tap-and-go. Zeilinga made it 25-30 with the conversion.
However, another Lions turnover and a craze, stupid hack ahead allowed Mapimpi to get his hat-trick. Chamberlain made it 37-25 with the conversion.
Another brain-dead moment by the Lions allowed replacement flyhalf Joaquin Bonilla to stretch the lead to 15 points – 40-25.
The Lions did come back, with Edwill van der Merwe making a sublime swan dive for his try and the team’s bonus point. Replacement Tiaan Swanepoel was wide with the conversion – 30-40.
With just over 10 minutes remaining replacement scrumhalf Morne van den Berg sniped over after a series of phases. Swanepoel made it a three-point game (37-40) with the conversion.
With time running out, following another Lions turnover, Lukhanyo Am went over in the corner to deny a willing Lions team a second bonus point. Bonilla added the conversion for a `10-point (47-37 win)
Man of the match: For the Lions veteran flank Jaco Kriel was impressive – some energetic runs and great work on defence, leaving him among the top tacklers in the game. Wing Edwill van der Merwe was also very busy and had a productive game. For the Sharks Springbok Lukhanyo Am was good value and got rewarded with a late try. Scrumhalf Grant Williams was also a busy player that caused the Lions plenty of problems around the fringes – even winning turnovers. Our award goes to the Sharks’ Bok wing Makazole Mapimpi – not just for his finishing and hat-trick, but the number of defenders beaten, great carries, metres gained and his impeccable defence.
The scorers
For the Lions
Tries: Warner, Simelane, Schoeman, Van der Merwe, Van den Berg
Cons: Zeilinga 2, Swanepoel
Pens: Zeilinga 2
For the Sharks
Tries: Fassi, Mapimpi 3, Van Vuuren, Am
Cons: Chamberlain 3, Bonilla
Pens: Chamberlain 2, Bonilla
Teams
Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain,) 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Matt More, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi, 7 Jeandré Labuschagne, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Replacements: 16 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Joaquin Bonilla, 23 Jeremy Ward.
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge & Aimee Barrett-Theron
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
