Sharks edge Lions in Ellis Park thriller

CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Sharks moved into the top four on the Currie Cup log after a thrilling 30-28 win over the Golden Lions at Ellis Park.

The Lions outscored the Sharks by four tries to three in the game. However, it was impressive goal-kicking from the Sharks that proved to be the difference in the end.

The home side showed great patience on attack in the opening stages and they opened the scoring with a converted try from Shaun Reynolds in the fourth minute.

The visitors reduced the deficit to four points in the eighth minute when scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba converted a penalty into three points.

After absorbing more pressure from the Lions, the Sharks then took the lead in the 16th minute when centre Jeremy Ward found his way to the tryline after a powerful run by wing Lwazi Mvovo along the touchline. Nohamba was successful with the conversion.

It was then Ward’s turn to be provider when his excellent offload in the midfield put scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba through the gap to sprint in for his team’s second try. Nohamba added the extra two points with the conversion and the Sharks had a handy 10-point lead after 23 minutes.

Reynolds brought the Lions a bit closer on the scoreboard in the 28th minute with a penalty. However, it was cancelled out in the 36th minute after a magnificent drop goal from Sharks flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain.

At half-time the Sharks were leading 20-10.

It was a blistering start to the second half for the Lions after centre Manni Rass put fullback Tyrone Green into space to run in for his team’s second try of the game in the 46th minute.

The Sharks hit back with a three-pointer from Nohamba in the 51st minute before Reynolds cancelled it out with a three-pointer of his own in the 56th minute.

The Lions then completed their comeback in the 63rd minute when Reynolds scored his second try of the game to put his team level with Sharks at 23-23. He was unable to convert the try to put his team in front.

However, the Sharks regained the in the 70th minute when Ward gathered the ball after a neat grubber kick from Rhyno Smith to run in for his team’s third try. Smith was successful with the conversion.

In a tense finish to the game, the Lions hit back with a try from Marnus Schoeman after a powerful driving maul in the Sharks’ 22. Replacement Dillon Smith could not add the extras with the conversion.

That miss from Smit proved to be costly for the Lions as the Sharks held on for the win.

Man of the match: Shaun Reynold scored two tries for the Golden Lions, while flank Marnus Schoeman made a massive impact off the bench for the Lions in the second half. For the Sharks, scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba had another impressive outing, However, the award goes to Sharks centre and co-captain Jeremy Ward who was simply outstanding on attack. He scored two tries and his offloads in the midfield cause plenty of problems for the home side.

For Golden Lions:
Tries: Reynolds 2, Green, Schoeman
Con: Reynolds
Pens: Reynolds 2

For Sharks:
Tries: Ward 2, Nohamba
Cons: Nohamba 2, Smith
Pens: Nohamba 2
DG: Chamberlain

Teams:

Golden Lions: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Manni Rass, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Len Massyn, 6 James Venter, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Frans van Wyk, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Rhyno Herbst, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Marnus Schoeman, 22 Dillon Smit, 23 Duncan Matthews.

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jeremy Ward (co-captain), 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Tera Mtembu (co-captain), 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Mzamo Majola.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Rhyno Smith, 23 Leolin Zas.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Christopher Allison
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Photo: @TheSharksZA