Lions race past Sharks into Final

The Golden Lions produced another exhilarating performance to race past the Sharks and into the Currie Cup Final.

The men from Johannesburg scored six great tries and dominated in almost all aspects of the game as they won 50-20 in an entertaining semifinal at Ellis Park on Saturday.

It is a result that preserved their unbeaten home run this season.

The Lions, as was to be expected, dominated the scrums and won a string of penalties. Veteran England and B&I Lions international Matt Stevens was shown up badly, while rookie Thomas du Toit was also taught a big lesson. When Springbok Lourens Adriaanse came on in the second half, he received the same treatment.

And with a surfeit of possession the Lions put on display their full array of attacking skills. And on defence the home side was just as energetic and forceful.

As for the Sharks. They were chasing shadows in the first half and after trailing 3-23 at the break, were always facing a monumental task to come back.

They had their chances, but poor handling scuppered a number of opportunities in the early exchanges of the second half.

Despite some questionable calls by the referee, who gave the appearance that he wanted to 'level the playing field', the Lions still looked to play an expansive game.

The Lions got off to a lying start, a high tackle by Sharks captain Lubabalo Mtembu gifting Marnitz Boshoff a shot at goal right in front of the posts in the second minute.

SP Marais had a shot from 60 metres out two minutes later, with the wind at his back, just shaving the upright. Lionel Cronje got the Sharks on the board in the ninth minute, from close range.

But the Lions' famed attacking play came to the fore from the restart – Howard Mnisi producing a sublime grubber, which he collected to score the opening try. Boshoff's conversi9on attempt was wide, but the Lions were back in the lead – 8-3.

Boshoff slotted another penalty to make it 11-3 at the end of the first quarter, before Cronje pushed a drop-goal attempt wide.

Then, in the 26th minute, flank Etienne Oosthuizen was sent to the sin bin for a spear tackle on Lions hooker Robbie Coetzee.

Despite dominating the scrums and the Sharks on a 'final' warning, the referee saw fit to award a penalty to the visitors – meaning the Lions could not drive their one-man advantage home.

Shortly after the Sharks were restored to their full compliment, the Lions produced two moments of sublime magic … as only they can.

First a quick line-out throw and quick hands found flank Jaco Kriel on the left wing, where he used his pace and power to sprint clear for his team's second try.

Then Kriel went from scorer to creator, busting several tackles before off-loading to Ruan Combrink, who put Ross Cronje into space and over.

Boshoff, who missed the first of the two late conversion attempts, slotted the second to give his team a 23-3 lead at the end of a dominant first half.

The Sharks were given a gift by the referee and TMO early in the second half, ruling that there was no 'clear and obvious' evidence of a forward pass. The try went to Lwazi Mvovo, with Cronje's conversion attempt drifting wide – 8-23 after 50 minutes.

And the questionable calls didn't end there. In the 56th minute Lions replacement Albertus Smith was sent to the sin bin for foul play, when it was blatantly obvious Lubabalo Mtembu jumped into the Lions defender. There is obviously some obscure rule somewhere that suggest a defender must suddenly disappear into thin air.

Despite being a man down the Lions showed why they are such a joy to watch, a turnover ball becoming a try to replacement hooker Armand van der Merwe – following some sublime interplay between forwards and backs.

Boshoff kicked the conversion and a penalty a few minutes later as the home team raced into a 33-8 lead.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, the Sharks captain, Mtembu barged over from close range. Fred Zeilinga's quick conversion gave the visitors a glimmer of hope – 15-33.

And when SP Marais scored the third Sharks try in the 71st minute, it looked like there was a big comeback on the cards. Zeilinga's conversion attempt hit the upright – 20-33.

Boshoff kicked a penalty with six minutes to go (36-20) and then Ruan Combrinck scored a try in the 78th minute as the men from Johannesburg booked their place in the Final.

But Lions captain Warren Whiteley still had time to get his name in the try-scoring column, as the Lions brought up their half-century – the final score – 50-20.

Man of the match: The Lion, as a collective and individuals, were outstanding. They all deserved praise, including the replacements. However, you don't have to look much further than flank Jaco Kriel if you need to single out an individual – his pace, power and energy just amazing, even though he did not return after half-time.

Moment of the match:  It has to be the first scrum. The Lions' dominance was a thing of beauty and it set the tone for the match.

Villain of the match: There were two yellow cards – Sharks flank Etienne Oosthuizen's spear tackle slightly more serious that Lions replacement Albertus Smith's air tackle on a Sharks player. However, the referee Jaco van Heerden's numerous questionable calls showed he was way out of his dept and at times gave the impression he wanted to influence the nature and flow of the match.

The scorers:

For the Golden Lions:

Tries: Mnisi, Kriel, Cronje, Van der Merwe, Combrinck, Whiteley

Cons:  Boshoff 4

Pens: Boshoff 4

For the Sharks:

Tries: Mvovo, Mtembu, Marais

Con: Zeilinga

Pen: Cronje

Yellow cards: Etienne Oosthuizen (Sharks, 26 – foul play, spear tackle), Albertus Smith (Golden Lions, 56 – foul play, tackling a player in the air)

Teams:

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Julian Redelinghuys, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Albertus Smith, 21 Mark Richards, 22 Harold Vorster.

Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Lubabalo Mtembu (captain), 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Thomas du Toit.

Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 John-Charles Astle, 20 Khaya Majola, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Fred Zeilinga.

Referee: Jaco van Heerden

Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Sieg van Staden

TMO: Johan Greeff

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