Lions keep their winning momentum
Comments
0
The Lions came back after conceding two first-half tries to beat rivals Sharks 23-21 at Ellis Park on Saturday and maintain their winning run in Super Rugby.
The Lions were 6-14 down, before Howard Mnisi scored on the stroke of half-time.
The home team then went over for two quick tries at the start of the second period – by Francois de Klerk (43rd minutes) and Harold Vorster (46th minute) as the Lions for the fifth time in six games.
This defeat for the Sharks followed on their horror implosion at home last weekend, when they were beaten 52-10 by the Crusaders.
They looked initially to have shrugged off that setback, when Renaldo Bothma went over as he spun through two tackles after an initial break through the middle by Andre Esterhuizen.
Speedy wing Lwazi Mvovo then outran the Lions defence to stretch the early lead to eight points.
But the Lions rallied through Mnisi and tries from De Klerk and Vorster in the first six minutes of the second half – as they turned the scoreline around to 23-14.
The Sharks fought back with a try two minutes from the end by Thomas du Toit and could have won with the last kick of the game, but an ambitious penalty attempt from the halfway line by Fred Zelinga sailed wide.
Man of the Match: Renaldo Bothma was energetic and impressive all match, even picking up his first try. Cobus Reinach also looked determined and made a lot of important plays. However, it was Lions scrumhalf Francois de Klerk that earns the reward for his electric running – and for that try!
Scorers:
For the Lions:
Tries: Mnisi, De Klerk, Vorster
Con: Jantjies
Pens: Jantjies 2
For the Sharks:
Tries: Bothma, Mvovo, Du Toit
Cons: Zeilinga 3
Yellow card: Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks, 58 – foul play, late & high tackle)
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Mark Richards, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Lohan Jacobs, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Howard Mnisi.
Sharks: 15 Odwa Ndungane, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Renaldo Bothma, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Marco Wentzel (captain), 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Jack Wilson.
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa), Rodney Boneparte (South Africa)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
ADVERTISEMENT
