Lambie’s light shines brightest
23 Feb 2013
Pat Lambie scored 19 points as the Sharks downed the Cheetahs.
The Sharks won 29-22 and were forced to dig deep to secure the victory. They led 26-5 with 20 minutes to go before the home team launched a fantastic comeback.
The Cheetahs got off to the ideal start, scoring a try early in the first half from a rolling maul, Philip van der Walt falling over the chalk. Johan Goosen missed an early long-range penalty and the try’s conversion.
Lambie on the other hand, slotted three consecutive penalties to take the lead for the first time and converted the Mvovo try to contribute 11 points in the first half alone. Mvovo’s try came from broken play after a messy lineout ball was wildly tapped on the Sharks’ side, which Mvovo ran onto at pace and ran to the tryline untouched.
The Cheetahs threatened late in the first half, but the Sharks’ defence was impressive and the home side could not reduce the deficit before half time.
The second half continued in much the same vain, the Sharks scoring another 10 points through a try from Marcell Coetzee, and the conversion and another penalty from Lambie. The Sharks had a 21 point lead and the game seemed all but over.
But step up Sarel Pretorius, who was the kick up the backside the Cheetahs needed. His speed and quick service almost single handedly got the Cheetahs back in this match. The Cheetahs hit back to score 17 unanswered points, two tries, both converted by Goosen and a penalty to bring the match to within three points for the home team.
The Sharks managed to held on though, their defence being the best attribute on the day. Lambie, who was announced man of the match, scored his 21st point late in the game, slotting his fifth penalty.
A poor crowd turned out for this season opener in Bloemfontein, but they were treated to an exciting, running game, something that has become something of a given at a Cheetahs match.
The Cheetahs’ slow start could well be as a result of Johan Goosen not having had any preseason gametime and taking some time to find his feet, his decision making and kicking letting him down in the first half. Piet van Zyl was also not in the best form, Sarel Pretorius pushing to start the next match after his magnificent performance tonight.
The Cheetahs battled in the set pieces, their lineouts were a complete shambles, probably as a result of their two first choice locks being out injured, while they struggled to get the upper hand at scrum time.
For the Sharks, one cannot say much more about the game plan at this stage, but their maturity showed as a Sharks team of two years ago would not have held on for this victory. Whether this comes down to the leadership within the team, Frans Steyn being the new captain, or just experience of past results finally paying dividends, remains to be seen.
They dominated at scrum time, and the backline showed some pace from speedsters such as Mvovo, Pietersen and Jordaan. Coach John Plumtree should be happy, but knowing the perfectionist he is, he would like the team to improve on their handling and possession lost stats.
The Sharks now host the Stormers in Durban, a match that is a repeat of the semi-final last year, a match that will go a long way indicating the top South African conference team.
By Richard Ferguson
249 Comments
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23 Feb 2013, 19:01 pm
As they say a win is a win. Congrats Sharkvarkies. Don’t think it will be easy for you guys next week though. A losing BP to the Sharks maybe…………..
23 Feb 2013, 19:01 pm
@ShaunB-200: I have called it 100% right so far. I should have played superbru.
Bulls, Sharks & Force. We know the last result isnt in question. So I did it ! 100%.
GO FORCE !
23 Feb 2013, 19:03 pm
@W.P-201: Based on performances, the Stormers need to up their game about 50% to be competitive next weekend. Sharks must play the full 80 minutes though.
23 Feb 2013, 19:03 pm
@Dusky-202:
Damn, you should have made my picks.
Only got the Sharks and Brumbies right.
Went on a serious free fall.
TR was nr 1 in the Hore pool earlier, VB had gained 105 places so far this week
23 Feb 2013, 19:04 pm
Well done to the Cheetahs for a brave fightback, they showed huge guts,
Then well done to my Sharks even though one could see it was their first big team they faced for this season, one can build on that performance.
Then to the couple of trolling Stormer suporters,?? want the website to google for free tissues??
http://www.Iamacryingtwatstormersupporterandineedfreetissuesbecauseagainigotbitchslapped.co.za
23 Feb 2013, 19:04 pm
At farken last some Superbru points.
Well done both teams, Cheetahs will push hard so called biggies.
23 Feb 2013, 19:04 pm
PFFFFT @Angostura-198:
Current Proteas
Steyn
Philander
Kallis
Morkel
Kleinveldt
Abbott (7 for on debut)
De Lange (7 for on debut)
Parnell
Tsotsobe
Future Proteas
Hendricks
Viljoen
Morris
Theron
Note: they do not break down like convict girls.
23 Feb 2013, 19:05 pm
@Angostura-198: and 4QuTOO
3 bowlers in the top 10 – who is ranked #1 and # 2 bowlers?
4QU
23 Feb 2013, 19:05 pm
@nortierd-204: Unfortunately you had to go with your team which is understandable. I flippin hope you didn’t pick the Kings ? Sentiment is one thing, but reality is another. They will not beat the Force, unless a miracle happens. Are the Kings getting 15 points to start each game with ? They have been given so many other concessions, I would hardly be surprised.
23 Feb 2013, 19:06 pm
Cheetahs did play very well.
23 Feb 2013, 19:08 pm
RL how does one switch allegiances? A flick of a switch? You’re what one calls a fake supporter. Even a team like the Lions doesn’t deserve your support. What happens if the Lions are back in the comp next season? One has to take you as seriously as the Sharks in any final.
23 Feb 2013, 19:09 pm
@Dusky-209:
Nope, Force by 12
I went for the Bulls last year and it bit me in the behind.
Went for Sharks in CC final and another chunk out of my @rse.
This year I overestimated the Stormers and underestimated the Bulls.
Difficult to sit at the moment
23 Feb 2013, 19:09 pm
@RL-207: Eish and the Dolphin destroyed the ****’s too lol
23 Feb 2013, 19:10 pm
Dusky you can only judge a team once they’ve played all the opposition. Likewise Stormers have to play Cheetahs. That said the Sharks always seem to run out of puff in the second half at times. Something to look into.
23 Feb 2013, 19:10 pm
@W.P-211: you call yourself W.P how did you get to become a Stormer
Note: WP is only union to retain is racist apartheid name, colours and symbols
23 Feb 2013, 19:12 pm
@Dusky-209: Dusky, the Sharks actually did one thing wrwong, they allowed the match to unravel even though they had the better of the tight exchanges, they just need to stop that and they will be ok,
MAny positives came from the game, and also credit to the cheetahs for awesome rugby.
23 Feb 2013, 19:12 pm
@W.P-214: Hope it isn’t a fitness issue. Something they will have to pay some attention to. They did it in the Currie Cup final as well. Time to play a full game again lads !
23 Feb 2013, 19:13 pm
@RL-207: Top 100, bru, not maybes
23 Feb 2013, 19:15 pm
@Angostura-218: idiot after only 1 match Abbott is already in the top 100 – after 3 matches he will be in the top 50.
How many team play cricket, how many bowlers in each team.
23 Feb 2013, 19:17 pm
@Angostura-218:
150k+ bowlers
de Lange
Pienaar
Hendricks
23 Feb 2013, 19:18 pm
@Angostura-218: 4Q I’m outta here.
23 Feb 2013, 19:19 pm
RL you’re a fake. You’re like a guy in drag. You disgust me. Sies.
23 Feb 2013, 19:21 pm
@W.P-222: You should know, plenty of them in Cape Town
23 Feb 2013, 20:04 pm
I’m back @ @Angostura-218: idiot
de Lange is a top 100 bowler, ranked #70 after only playing 1 match – hell even batsmen like Duminy and Graeme Smith are ranked in the bowling top 100 list.
You mamparra!
23 Feb 2013, 20:04 pm
KP is ranked in the top 100 and so to Michael Clarke.
23 Feb 2013, 20:14 pm
Hmmm… I’ll give the game to Lambie. He didn’t miss a kick. Goosen obviously got his mojo back in the second half.
BUT! Did Lambie leave the field between kicks? He was… absent.
23 Feb 2013, 20:30 pm
@Angostura-198: how easy is it to get in the top 100 – 1 match is all that is needed – continue with you convict man love
23 Feb 2013, 21:31 pm
@Bouts-226: Well next time leave the sour grapes , open both eyes and watch the match properly.
23 Feb 2013, 22:31 pm
Cheetahs great comeback!
Soft try Lwazi Mvovo 1st half …
Goosen missed 8 points…
Sort out lineouts and maybe playing Coenie loose head instead of tight head.
Fast backline.
Exciting rugby.
Can the journalist count? 29-22 and Lambie score 21 points … 2 tries … he scored 19 points Richard Ferguson.
23 Feb 2013, 23:26 pm
@Dusky-202: We all know what Dusky will be having for breakfast – some of the egg that’s all over his face.
23 Feb 2013, 23:28 pm
Cant help but feel the Sharkies didn’t really break a sweat. They did what they had to ,half of the halved pack on the bench with 20 to go…
Goosen isn’t steadfast enough to be the Bok 10.
23 Feb 2013, 23:29 pm
@Bouts-226: Racist
23 Feb 2013, 23:55 pm
@wpallday-231:
Johan Goosen just back from shoulder knee feet injuries.
Watch him when his goal kicking is good from the start of the game.
He is gonna be brilliant this year with that fast backline!
23 Feb 2013, 23:57 pm
@wpallday-231: @wpallday-231:
Johan Goosen just back from shoulder knee feet injuries.
Watch him when his goal kicking is good from the start of the game.
He is gonna be brilliant this year with that fast backline!
24 Feb 2013, 01:52 am
@Dusky-202: uhh feeling a bit lame now that the Kings have won?? LMFAO
24 Feb 2013, 06:53 am
@Slumtown-235:
One win against the lamest side in the Aussie conference does not a season make. Don’t you think you should wait a few more weeks before giving your gloat some weight?
24 Feb 2013, 06:54 am
@wpallday-231:
As The Sharks are in the habit of doing.
I’m starting to get this uncanny feeling that the Bulls might be the dark horses of the tournament.
24 Feb 2013, 07:16 am
@angustore198- we don’t change our bowlers like diapers and besides we occupy. 1 and 2 in the test rankings for bowlers
24 Feb 2013, 08:56 am
@Treehugger-34: Hi Th.
Hope you are well.Nice Article & Pic
REgards
24 Feb 2013, 11:00 am
Well done Sharks. At least you did not bugger up my bru like my team did.
What went wrong in the last 20 minutes or so? Are your boys unfit?
24 Feb 2013, 11:34 am
@bokkefan-234: Doesn’t change the fact that he doesn’t tackle …
24 Feb 2013, 12:30 pm
What’s the verdict on Fransie’s leadership abilities? He acted emotionally immature at times imo.
How did he perform yesterday?
24 Feb 2013, 16:42 pm
@nama1-240:
They were close enough,
Daniller should have scored at the last minute, lack of support from the Nigerian saved the Sharks who basically imploded from the heat and the altitude.
Lambie essentially kept them in the game with his accurate and clever kicks
24 Feb 2013, 16:48 pm
@nama1-242:
He is no leader and no captain, but he is everything else
If you could combine Sadie’s attacking flare, creativity, speed and skills with that of Styen’s other attributes such as tackle, kicking, positioning in defence and physicality the you might get a super centre
25 Feb 2013, 02:58 am
How has super Sarel never been a bok? I would honestly have him there before Hougaard.
25 Feb 2013, 09:27 am
Has nobody else picked this up yet?
IT’S Mathematically IMPOSSIBLE for Lambie to have scored 21 points!! He scored 19.
2 tries at 5 points each = 10 points. Lambie was not a try scorer.
Rather:
5 x penalties
2x conversions
Get the stats correct Keo journo’s!!!!
25 Feb 2013, 09:35 am
@Charging Rhino-246:
Apologies
25 Feb 2013, 09:40 am
@Richard Ferguson-247: Cool now worries.
I read Spiro Zavos’s articles from The Roar too and he ALWAYS gets his stats wrong and muddled up! It drives me nuts because I’m not even a rugby writer and I seem to know (or remember) more than him. Ha ha
Cheers
25 Feb 2013, 15:09 pm
@xtremebull-238: hiya, xtremebull
Have you followed the debate between RL & I?
I started the cricket discussion with a complimentary post when Abbott took 5 wickets on debut, a rare achievement:
11.Angostura:
23 Feb 2013, 16:52 pm
pheiffer 4 Kyle Abbott on debut!
nortierd posted his delight when Abbott took 6 wickets.
Hendrikp then posted:
13.hendrikp:
23 Feb 2013, 16:57 pm
@Angostura-11: @nortierd-12:
Really do have a brilliant bowling attack when you can bring guys in and they do that on debut. May we continue dominating test cricket for the next 50 years
I agreed & replied:
17.Angostura:
23 Feb 2013, 17:00 pm
@hendrikp-13: yeah, & we still have another young buck, Marchant de Lange, who has just recently come back from a stress fracture injury who took 7 on debut
RL gave his opinion:
18.RL:
23 Feb 2013, 17:00 pm
Abbott 6 for 27 from 11 overs. Who says we don’t have bowling depth.
And I gave my opinion re relative pace bowling depth:
22.Angostura:
23 Feb 2013, 17:03 pm
Australia’s fast bowling riches even more impressive (re quantity, not quality, tho)
**
I was quite specific, that I regard the quality of our current fast bowlers as 2nd to none, but that Australia has greater pace bowling depth.
I don’t understand why both you and RL in your responses raise matters of relative excellence (performance, form, relative ranking) when the point I raised was relative depth (relative quantity of bowlers representing their respective countries at Test level during the past 2.5 years AND who have done well at Test level). DEPTH is the issue at hand – that & only that. I you wish to debate depth, feel free to join the melee, supported by facts, naturally. But leave quality (no 1 & 2 rankings, etc.) out of it due to its irrelevance to depth, & the fact that I actually mentioned the obvious first off, viz. that the quality of our current crop of pace bowlers surpasses that of Australia (so we are all in agreement on that, but that is hardly surprising since that ‘insight’ is pretty much trite, no?)
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