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Johannesburg - The Sharks fought back from a
21-point deficit to steal a 30-30 draw with the Lions in a South African
derby in the Super 15 on Saturday.
The Sharks kept their hopes of reaching the Super Rugby playoffs alive.
The visitors struggled to deal with the renewed energy with which the Lions played and were at one stage trailing 30-9 against the side that last won a Super Rugby match at home in May 2009.
A sublime late try by wing Lwazi Mvovo, in combination with some nerves of steal by flyhalf Patrick Lambie, ensured that the Sharks picked up two valuable log points ahead of next week's clash against the Bulls in Pretoria.
The Sharks opened the scoring through Lambie who converted a penalty in a closely contested first quarter of the match.
After equalising with a three-pointer from flyhalf Butch James, the Lions took charge of the match and dominated territorially.
They were quick to add three more as the Sharks struggled to adapt to the pace at which the game was being played.
The hosts crossed the try line on the 30-minute mark when flank Cobus Grobbelaar was shoved over the line by his pack.
James converted to give the Lions a 10-point lead with half-time in sight.
Through some outstanding midfield defence by the likes of centre Alwyn Hollenbach and skipper Doppies La Grange, the Sharks were kept at bay and secured only three more points before the interval.
The Lions did, however, have the last say as the sides headed into the tunnel.
Their second try of the match was the result of a well planned move involving prop Patric Cilliers who delivered a well timed pass to fullback Jaco Taute.
Taute burst through the Sharks defence before sending it wide to scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, who not only held on to the pass directed at his feet, but also managed to beat Mvovo to the line.
The Lions picked up where they left off after the break by adding 10 points to their 20-9 half-time lead.
Grobbelaar was again in the thick of things as his teammates pushed him over the try line from an attacking line-out.
Eventually Lambie slipped through the Lions' outstretched defence to put the Sharks right back in the match at 30-16.
Then, while the Lions were trying their best to stop a trademark Sharks counter attack, James went in high when trying to take flanker Keegan Daniel down and was subsequently sin-binned.
From that point onwards the Sharks took control, while the Lions relied heavily on their tacklers to keep the visitors out.
The Sharks bench also made an impact as both Bismarck du Plessis and centre Adi Jacobs were menacing with ball in hand.
Their next try was an easy run-in by Springbok wing JP Pietersen, while the most important of the match came just as the Lions thought they had it in the bag.
With little more than three minutes left on the clock, Mvovo raced over for the five-pointer that brought his side within two points of drawing level.
Lambie, who had not missed a single kick all night, slotted the conversion to draw the scores level.
The Lions came close to stealing the win with a drop goal, but James' kick was charged down by Du Plessis.
Lions 30-Tries: Cobus Grobelaar(2), Jarno Vermaak; Conversion: Butch James(3) Penalties: Butch James(3)
Sharks 30- Tries: Patrick Lambie, JP Pietersen, Lwazi Mvovo; Conversions: Patrick Lambie(3); Penalties: Patrick Lambie(3)
Teams:
Lions – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Dylan Des Fountain, 13 Doppies la Grange (c), 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Butch James, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe/David de Villiers, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David de Villiers/David Bulbring, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Michael Killian.
Sharks – 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Frederic Michalak, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
The Sharks kept their hopes of reaching the Super Rugby playoffs alive.
The visitors struggled to deal with the renewed energy with which the Lions played and were at one stage trailing 30-9 against the side that last won a Super Rugby match at home in May 2009.
A sublime late try by wing Lwazi Mvovo, in combination with some nerves of steal by flyhalf Patrick Lambie, ensured that the Sharks picked up two valuable log points ahead of next week's clash against the Bulls in Pretoria.
The Sharks opened the scoring through Lambie who converted a penalty in a closely contested first quarter of the match.
After equalising with a three-pointer from flyhalf Butch James, the Lions took charge of the match and dominated territorially.
They were quick to add three more as the Sharks struggled to adapt to the pace at which the game was being played.
The hosts crossed the try line on the 30-minute mark when flank Cobus Grobbelaar was shoved over the line by his pack.
James converted to give the Lions a 10-point lead with half-time in sight.
Through some outstanding midfield defence by the likes of centre Alwyn Hollenbach and skipper Doppies La Grange, the Sharks were kept at bay and secured only three more points before the interval.
The Lions did, however, have the last say as the sides headed into the tunnel.
Their second try of the match was the result of a well planned move involving prop Patric Cilliers who delivered a well timed pass to fullback Jaco Taute.
Taute burst through the Sharks defence before sending it wide to scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, who not only held on to the pass directed at his feet, but also managed to beat Mvovo to the line.
The Lions picked up where they left off after the break by adding 10 points to their 20-9 half-time lead.
Grobbelaar was again in the thick of things as his teammates pushed him over the try line from an attacking line-out.
Eventually Lambie slipped through the Lions' outstretched defence to put the Sharks right back in the match at 30-16.
Then, while the Lions were trying their best to stop a trademark Sharks counter attack, James went in high when trying to take flanker Keegan Daniel down and was subsequently sin-binned.
From that point onwards the Sharks took control, while the Lions relied heavily on their tacklers to keep the visitors out.
The Sharks bench also made an impact as both Bismarck du Plessis and centre Adi Jacobs were menacing with ball in hand.
Their next try was an easy run-in by Springbok wing JP Pietersen, while the most important of the match came just as the Lions thought they had it in the bag.
With little more than three minutes left on the clock, Mvovo raced over for the five-pointer that brought his side within two points of drawing level.
Lambie, who had not missed a single kick all night, slotted the conversion to draw the scores level.
The Lions came close to stealing the win with a drop goal, but James' kick was charged down by Du Plessis.
Scorers:
Lions 30-Tries: Cobus Grobelaar(2), Jarno Vermaak; Conversion: Butch James(3) Penalties: Butch James(3)
Sharks 30- Tries: Patrick Lambie, JP Pietersen, Lwazi Mvovo; Conversions: Patrick Lambie(3); Penalties: Patrick Lambie(3)
Teams:
Lions – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Dylan Des Fountain, 13 Doppies la Grange (c), 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Butch James, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe/David de Villiers, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David de Villiers/David Bulbring, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Michael Killian.
Sharks – 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Frederic Michalak, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
