Currie Cup
Sharks book home final spot
2012-10-20 18:16
Durban - Springbok back Patrick Lambie kicked
15 points as the Sharks booked their place in the Currie Cup final with
a dominating 20-3 victory over the Blue Bulls at a wet Kings Park in
Durban on Saturday.
Three first-half penalties from the young
flyhalf put the hosts 9-0 up at the break, before two more penalties and
a late Lwazi Mvovo try ensured that John Plumtree’s men will host next
week’s decider.
The Sharks fully deserved their win, almost
entirely dominating against the side from Pretoria, who had to play with
14 men for a period in the first half after a professional foul by
Morne Mellett.
The two sides seemed reluctant to hold on to the
ball during the early exchanges, while the hosts fluffed their first
attempt at goal when a fifth-minute Lambie penalty from close to the
halfway line dropped well short.
The kicking trend continued for
most of the opening quarter, before the Sharks finally went ahead with a
22nd minute penalty from Lambie after Jano Vermaak was penalised for
being off-side.
The Bulls were reduced to 14 men on the half-hour
mark when prop Mellett was yellow carded for a cynical trip of Lambie
after he kicked forward and looked to collect five metres short of the
tryline.
Lambie slotted over the penalty and added another
moments later when Francois Venter failed to release in a tackle after a
fine initial chase by winger Mvovo.
It was a deserved lead for
the Sharks at the break and after the restart Lambie extended the
advantage when flanker Jacques Potgieter failed to roll away.
There
was finally an attacking chance for the visitors 10 minutes into the
second half, but they were thwarted on the line by some solid home
defence -- a free-kick turning into a penalty to add insult to injury
for the Bulls after some back chatting to referee Mark Lawrence.
The Bulls seemed to suddenly find momentum going forward, only for JJ Engelbrecht to knock on when they found an attacking gear.
Winger
Bjorn Basson then missed a pass as he charged forward, before Pine
Pienaar’s men eventually won a penalty within kickable range after
Steven Sykes took too long to roll away from a ruck.
Morne Steyn converted the penalty but the Sharks hit straight back, again through Lambie, to retain their 12-point lead.
With six minutes to go, Mvovo capped a good team effort by diving over on the left to clinch the win.