Lions' Combrinck sinks Sharks

The Michaelhouse old boy made up for Elton Jantjies’ erratic kicking in the quarterfinal and secured a last four date with the Hurricanes in Johannesburg next week. A second half surge saved the Lions from defeat, after a very strong first 40 from the Durban visitors.

A knock on from the from the first kick-off put the Sharks on the back foot and the Lions attacked relentlessly in the opening minutes of the game. The visitors did well to keep the hosts out in the opening exchanges despite the massive pressure applied by the Lions.

Sanity eventually prevailed as Lions captain Jaco Kriel decided to give Elton Jantjies a shot at goal with their third kickable penalty – but the Lions and Springbok flyhalf struck the upright, letting the Sharks off the hook for a third time.

But an unnecessary obstruction from Sharks lock Etienne Oosthuizen gave Jantjies a second shot, and he made no mistake putting the Lions ahead 3-nil.

The Sharks managed to hit back off the resulting kick-off, which was fortuitous. Curwin Bosch initially kicked the ball out on the full and the Lions took a quick lineout. Lukhanyo Am made a decisive intercept and the Sharks shifted the ball out to Kobus van Wyk, who scored in the right corner to put his side ahead.

The next foray into the Lions half saw the Sharks put their noses in-front, as Bosch dropped into the pocket and slotted a well-taken drop goal.

A penalty at scrum-time afforded the Lions with a chance to draw level but Jantjies’ radar was off, missing a second shot at goal.

The Sharks came close to scoring a second try a few minutes later, but a great steal by Malcolm Marx just short of their try-line prevented Dan du Preez from releasing the ball.

The tables were turned in the last ten minutes of the first half, as the Sharks put the Lions under immense pressure. That afforded the Sharks a penalty deep in the hosts half and Bosch kicked his first penalty of the game.

The flyhalf put the Sharks further ahead in the 39^th minute, with a second long range shot just inside the Lions half – giving the Durban outfit a 14-3 lead at half time.

After what would have been a stern talking to, the Lions came out firing and built some serious pressure in the opening ten minutes of the second half. Repeat infringements saw Sharks lock Stephan Lewies given a yellow card and the Lions quickly scored with the one man advantage.

Big Franco Mostert was unstoppable close to the line and the try saw the Lions reduce the deficit to six points.

The Lions continued to go on the attack and the yellow card continued to cost the Sharks, as Lions skipper Jaco Kriel went in for their second try. Jantjies continued to struggle with his kicking, missing the conversion. Nevertheless the Sharks lead was reduced to just 14-13.

Lions outside centre Lionel Mapoe then gave the Lions their first comfortable lead, scoring their third try with a good run. The successful conversion from Jantjies made it 20-13 with 25 minutes to play.

The Sharks finally managed to turn the tables thanks to a yellow card to Lions centre Harold Vorster. The advantage told as the Lions had to lose a man in their pack, and the resulting scrum saw Sharks number 8 Dan du Preez barged his way over the line to put the Sharks in the lead once again.

The Lions’ missed another shot at goal; this time wing Ruan Combrinck pulling an offside penalty that would have put the hosts in the lead.

Combrinck made amends for his miss with two minutes left to play – slotting a 60 metre penalty to put the hosts in front by two points.