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
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] 5 » Show All
23 Feb 2013, 18:38 pm
Ok out
23 Feb 2013, 18:38 pm
Hard luck PSDT.
23 Feb 2013, 18:39 pm
I put this bugger on the wing for Boks straightaway – gdam kirwan – he on one wing and JP on other – great finish
23 Feb 2013, 18:39 pm
Cheetahs fans know something we don’t? Singing “Ole Ole”..
23 Feb 2013, 18:40 pm
Come cheetahtjies don’t let up run these overrated Gupta Gumpty Guppy yuppies ragged
LEKKER soos n krekker Psdt stepped out . smattering smarting smartipants. Pity cheetahs getting crumpled at scrum time.
23 Feb 2013, 18:40 pm
Nortier ek het n hout cabin so ek bou self groter en dis baie lekker.
Gaan 1 maal n maand af en doen iets.
Ek is baie blessed om so n plek tehe.
23 Feb 2013, 18:40 pm
Beast single-handed destruction – rest of sharks pack v ordinary
23 Feb 2013, 18:40 pm
Awesome scrum Sharks. Going to destroy the Stormers next week.
23 Feb 2013, 18:41 pm
Shoulda finished them off twice already, poor option by jordaan
23 Feb 2013, 18:42 pm
Hope the Cheetahs remember how to play when they go on tour.
23 Feb 2013, 18:43 pm
And the Sharks fans hearts are in the mouths.
23 Feb 2013, 18:43 pm
@Guns-154:
You sure they aren’t asking for Ollie! Ollie Le Roux?
They need help in the scrum.
@Fern-156:
Klink lekker rustig.
Watter dam?
23 Feb 2013, 18:43 pm
Jussie Hennie nearly put the game back on its head!
23 Feb 2013, 18:44 pm
Sharks are not as strong as some say. Cheetahs really pushing them. South African conference wide open.
23 Feb 2013, 18:44 pm
Game saving tackle
23 Feb 2013, 18:44 pm
@nortierd-162: Good point.. Ollie still game mobile?
23 Feb 2013, 18:45 pm
Fck almost try there by Daniller Sharkishits get out of jail again the Man United of S.A. rugby
23 Feb 2013, 18:45 pm
Knock-on blind ref!
23 Feb 2013, 18:45 pm
Great game. If the Cheetahs can maintain this standard they will klap the Stormers and Bulls.
23 Feb 2013, 18:46 pm
Steyn to Bosman to Jordaan, for a minute there, I thought that was the Cheetahs on attack…
23 Feb 2013, 18:46 pm
Yebo Sharkies!!!
23 Feb 2013, 18:46 pm
@skopdiekan-167: Almost not good enough skopshit, not good enough. AC is kaking his kort broeks as we speak.
23 Feb 2013, 18:46 pm
@Guns-166:
For a platter of Spur Burgers he will take Jannie and Beast and put them on the N3 by himself to hit the road home.
23 Feb 2013, 18:46 pm
Sharks hardly out of second gear.
23 Feb 2013, 18:47 pm
Kaplan saving the Sharks with a penalty that could have gone to FS. Sharks under the cosh in the second half – just like the CC final. Game on next week.
23 Feb 2013, 18:47 pm
Well done Sharks – suits my bru – well sort of.
And thank you Patrick Lambie.
23 Feb 2013, 18:47 pm
BOOM
We are victorious!
23 Feb 2013, 18:47 pm
Hard luck Cheetahs. Dry your eyes, Stormers fans.
23 Feb 2013, 18:47 pm
Congrats all the Sharkies.
Good win away from home.
Bit dodgy at the end, but that the Cheetahs for you, never know when they are beaten.
23 Feb 2013, 18:48 pm
Right, nothing to see here anymore…over to the Kings thread.
23 Feb 2013, 18:49 pm
Well played Cheetahs, they will hopefully do well this year. Good start for the Sharks, happy with a win first up.
23 Feb 2013, 18:49 pm
Few mistakes by JK there at the end. Sharks lucky.
Goosen has some serious pace.
23 Feb 2013, 18:49 pm
@RL-177:
23 Feb 2013, 18:49 pm
@RL-177:
You’ve been waiting a long time to say those words.
Enjoy it
23 Feb 2013, 18:49 pm
Time for the Kings – hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
23 Feb 2013, 18:49 pm
Bwahahahahahahahahaha so now these FS chaps will murder the Stormers and Bulls just cos they nearly farked the Sharkies lol. Reserve comment for when each team has played each other.
23 Feb 2013, 18:50 pm
Lucky Sharkishits if Kaplan hadn’t given Lambie all those freebies cheetahs would have smacked them second half. All their bought in mercenaries couldn’t put them together again.
23 Feb 2013, 18:50 pm
Beast MOTM – about a thousand miles better than anything else in SA
23 Feb 2013, 18:50 pm
damn i’m singing in the wrong thread
O thou great Guppy
Guide me, O thou great Guppy,
Swimming through this sterile sea;
I am weak, but thou art Mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful fin:
Ocean of heaven, Ocean of heaven
Feed me frenzy till I want no more.
Feed frenzy me till I want no more.
Open thou the crystal Oyster
Whence the healing stream shall flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy water
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer
Be thou still my strength and scales.
Be thou still my strength and scales.
When I tread the verge of Posiedon,
Bid my anxious fears foes subside;
Death to choking, and winning trophies,
Land me safe on Super Rugby glorious side:
Dream of winning, Dream of winning
I will ever give to thee.
I will ever give to thee.
23 Feb 2013, 18:51 pm
Dodged a small bullet there boys
Great game.
1 away win under the belt.
Lambies kicking the difference.
Let’s all get behind the Kings now.
Seriously.
23 Feb 2013, 18:52 pm
Ah, it’s great to hear that whining. Save those sour grapes for your papsakke, Stormpies!
23 Feb 2013, 18:52 pm
Stormers don’t have to fear these Sharkies. Their fitness levels in the second half has to be questioned – WP out lasted them in the CC final too. Can’t wait for next weeks game!
23 Feb 2013, 18:54 pm
Go Kings!
23 Feb 2013, 18:54 pm
@cab-188:
Hondo might disagree.
23 Feb 2013, 18:54 pm
Pat is the man of the match. Well done young man.
klap klap klap (is it with a c or k?)
23 Feb 2013, 18:56 pm
clap clap clap clap for Lambie and all the other mighty Guppies.
(note not the kind of klap many a brokeback has)
23 Feb 2013, 18:57 pm
Cheetahs no 8 not too shabby either
23 Feb 2013, 18:57 pm
@RL-30: 4Q, mon, I can read & count – tis you that didn’t pass the 3 RRRs at primary school:
Otherwise you’d know that the following pace bowlers have represented Australia at Test level the past 2.5 years AND all of them have done well at that level:
Peter Siddle
Ben Hilfenhaus
Mitchell Johnson
Ryan Harris
Shane Watson
James Pattinson
Mitchell Starc
Jackson Bird
Pat Cummins
Trent Copeland
Dave Bollinger
What’s more, 8 of these pace bowlers appear in the top 100 Test bowler rankings.
SA has only 6 pace bowlers in the top 100.
And our pace bowling depth is not comparable to that of Aus, as indicated above
**
LEKKER SHARKS!
GO KINGS!
23 Feb 2013, 18:58 pm
this cheetahs team will be too good for the Stormers.
Sharks didn’t even leave first gear.
23 Feb 2013, 19:00 pm
if the stormers had played the cheetahs this weekend, based on their respective performances, the cheetahs would have won.
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] 5 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.