ex- Sharks website
The Cell C Sharks battled through the weather and a committed visiting Lions side to eventually emerge 29-12 victors in a tense and uncompromising Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Growthpoint KINGS PARK.
It was a victory earned through sheer hard work and better execution and was a well-deserved reward for a massive effort.
The field was flooded after a massive downpour two hours before kick-off, but the conditions improved to provide a puddle-less pitch when it came to kick-off, although the rain never abated throughout the course of the game.
Sometimes playing without he ball is the most prudent way to win a game, especially when conditions hardly warrant a ball-in-hand-running-rugby approach. The Lions, keen to play attacking rugby didn’t veer drastically away from the way they like to play, although their kicking game was well-executed.
With both teams looking to play the conditions, the sides opted for kicking games to force mistakes. In the opening ten minutes there was nothing much in it with both flyhalves converting a penalty each successfully.
With the wet weather, certain aspects of the game were bound to be something of a lottery, and although both sides did well to contain their opponents, the scrums in particular went the way of the home side, with their driving maul in impressive form, both efforts seeing the Lions penalised regularly.
One tactic that paid off for them was the cross-kick into space. Lambie tried it three times with varied success before his pinpoint effort in the 25 minute was fielded by Odwa Ndungane, a diving catch which saw him glide over the tryline for the opening try of the game.
As the game hit the half hour mark, Cobus Reinach’s effort was referred to the TMO who happily ruled the try was good and with the successful conversion, the lead was 15-3. Boshoff succeeded with the only other score of the half, a second penalty to pull his team back to 15-6.
But it was a fantastic scrumming performance from the home side that allowed them to build such ascendancy and force the visitors onto the back foot. Although both sides were deemed to have infringed and the Cell C Sharks gave away a couple of penalties at the set-piece, there could be no denying the fact that they won that particular battle. One scrum saw them push the Lions right off their own scrum ball to demonstrate just what a powerful unit they are.
Two minutes into the second half, the Lions changed their entire front row to try stem the litany of penalties they were conceding and at the first scrum conceded a free kick on their 22.
The tackling was ferocious and the forwards outmuscled their upcountry visitors to put all kinds of doubt into their pack’s ability to build a platform. But still they gave it everything in traditional Lions’ style and were rewarded with a couple of penalties that allowed them to chip away at the Cell C Sharks’ lead.
With just three points in it, the game had reached a critical juncture, but a scrum penalty, then a driving lineout saw Marcell Coetzee over for the third try, and with the successful conversion, the lead was 10 points and some breathing space was earned.
Importantly, the bonus point in reach.
A mirror of the third try, a strong maul off a good lineout saw Marcell Coetzee score the fourth try to put the game well out of doubt and secure the valuable bonus point with the game winding down.
The Cell C Sharks can rightly feel proud of an outstanding effort.
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks: 29 (15)
Tries: Odwa Ndungane, Cobus Reinach, Marcell Coetzee (2)
Conversions: Pat Lambie (3)
Penalties: Pat Lambie (1)
Emirates Lions: 12 (6)
Penalties: Marnitz Boshoff (4)
