Lions scrape home Against Sharks
The sunny conditions provided the perfect platform for attacking rugby, but both teams coughed up a plethora of opportunities in the first half.
The Lions stuck to the plan that has worked for them throughout the competition by retaining the ball to setup phase after phase of sniping runs.
The Sharks had to dig deep to keep the home team at bay.
Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff got the first points of the match in the 28th minute when he landed a penalty goal.
His Sharks counterpart, Joe Pietersen, kicked one of his own a few minutes later.
Boshoff was again on target with his boot to give the Lions a 6-3 halftime lead.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first with mistakes aplenty.
Boshoff kicked two more penalties while Pietersen was successful with his attempt at goal.
Lions lock and man of the match Lourens Erasmus had a barnstorming game in what was his starting debut – it was only fitting that he scored the opening try with 20 minutes left.
His try galvanised both teams as a further three tries were scored.
Lions wing Courtnall Skosan scored in the corner after a strong driving maul by his forwards.
Pietersen ran in a try for the Sharks which started deep in their own half.
The final minutes of the match belonged to the Sharks.
They were desperate to bag another win in what is turning out to be a disappointing season for them.
Some great interlinking play allowed loose forward Francois Kleinhans to score a try in the 78th minute.
Pietersen nailed the conversion to leave the final score at 26-18 to the Lions.
Man of the match: Phillip van der walt continued his good form and stood up to the non-stop attacks on his line. Odwa Ndungane and Paul Jordaan showed glimpses of what they are capable of.Howard Mnisi was a demon on defence. But Lourens Erasmus had a brilliant game with his devastating runs and he wins the accolade this week..
Scorers:
For Golden Lions:
Tries: Erasmus, Skosan
Con: Boshoff 2
Pens: Boshoff 4
For Sharks:
Try: Petersen, Kleinhans
Con: Petersen
Pens: Petersen 2
Teams:
Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Fabian Booysen, 7 Albertus Smith, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ruan Dreyer.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 19 Stephan de Witt, 20 Jaco van der Walt, 21 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Antony Volmink.
Sharks: 15 Odwa Ndungane, 14 Wandile Mjekevu, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Sibusiso Sithole, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Marco Wentzel (captain), 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Gerhard Engelbrecht, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Dave McDuling, 19 Daniel du Preez, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Heimar Williams, 22 Garth April.
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant Referees: Francois Pretorius, Jaco Kotze
TMO: Willie Vos
