Lions edge Ellis Park try-feast

MATCH REPORT: Young fullback Tiaan Swanepoel kicked an injury-time penalty to secure the Lions a thrilling 43-40 win over the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The teams scored six tries each in an entertaining and fast-paced encounter, with Swanepoel’s 84th-minute three-pointer the only time either team aimed a penalty at goal.

It came well into the referee’s additional time.

However. both teams should celebrate the entertainment value of the game, rather than the final outcome.

* Did you miss any of the action? To recap the drama, CLICK HERE!

The home team, captained by Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies, led 26-14 at the break.

Ngia Selengbe, Swanepoel, Vincent Tshituka, Courtnall Skosan, Dan Jooste and Wandisile Simelane scored a try each for the Joburg side, while Swanepoel (two) and Jantjies (three) succeeded with five conversions between them.

Forward replacements Dylan Richardson (hooker) and Ntuthuko Mchunu (prop) each managed to score two second half tries apiece for the visitors, to add to the first-half tries by Aphelele Fassi (fullback) and Werner Kok (right wing).

The Lions finished the first half firmly in control having outscored the visiting side by four tries to two.

They displayed their attacking intent with a couple of eye-catching long-range tries, while also showed their teeth when mattered on defence, such as their effort right at the end of the first stanza to deny the Sharks from scoring a third try.

The first half was an entertaining affair, which netted no less than six tries. The slick handling made up for the struggles by both sides in the set-pieces, which can no doubt be attributed to the experimental make-up of both teams.

With the Sharks determined to claw their way back, the Lions repelled several attempts by the visitors’ pack at the start of the second half.

With Lions prop Carlu Sadie sent to the sin bin, it was no surprise that the Sharks elected to maul towards the Lions’ line for a third successive time, with Richardson crossing the whitewash.

Boeta Chamberlain (flyhalf) hit the mark with his second conversion to reduce the deficit to 26-21 with plenty of time left on the clock.

However, in keeping in sync with their lineout woes, the Sharks bungled a throw in on their goal line, allowing Lions hooker Jan-Henning Campher to score an easy try, which Swanepoel converted to stretch their advantage to 33-21.

Richardson then atoned for his previous mistake when he forced his way over for his second try of the afternoon which was converted by Springbok Curwin Bosch, who had come onto the field a few minutes earlier as the replacement flyhalf (33-28).

Mchunu made a great impact for the visitors when he scored two quick-fire tries which allowed the coastal side to level matters at 40-40 after Simelane had scored an acrobatic try for the Lions, “intercepting” a cross-field kick deel in the Sharks’ territory.

With the clock winding down, Simelane had a wonderful opportunity to score his second try and the winning points for the Lions, but he was felled just short of the whitewash by a bout of cramps.

With the game heading for a high-scoring stalemate, Swanepoel easily steered his injury-time penalty goal kick through the sticks for a dramatic home win.

Man of the match: Aphelele Fassi and Werner Kok entertained with their workload and skill. Lukhanyo Am had another great game – not just with his creative skills and defensive organisation, but the turnovers he wins at the breakdown. Dylan Richardson, a loose forward converted to hooker, brought some real grunt, while replacement prop Ntuthuko Mchunu made real impact with his strength and energy. Lions captain Elton Jantjies had his moments, while fullback Tiaan Swanepoel scored a try and kicked the match-winning penalty. Willem Alberts brought the grunt, while Francke Horn worn a No.8 on his backs, but shades of an openside flank. Our award goes to Lions flank Vincent Tshituka. It was not a flawless display, but he showed his blistering pace and not scared to do the hard work at the breakdown.

The scorers

For the Lions
Tries: Selengbe, Swanepoel, Tshituka, Skosan, Campher, Simelane
Cons: Swanepoel 2, Jantjies 3
Pen: Swanepoel

For the Sharks
Tries: Fassi, Kok, Richardson 2, Mchunu 2
Cons: Chamberlain 3, Bosch 2

Yellow card: Carlu Sadie (Lions, 45 – cynical foul, collapsing the maul)

Teams

Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel; 14 Ngia Selengbe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Courtnall Skosan; 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner; 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Ruan Dreyer.
Replacements: Pieter Botha, Nathan McBeth, Jannie du Plessis, Reinhard Nothnagel, Sibusiso Sangweni, Ross Cronjé, Fred Zeilinga, Dan Kriel.

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Thembelani Bholi, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Mzamo Majola.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Marius Louw.

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Griffin Colby
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen

Picture credit: speedshots.co.za