Enormous Jordan Hendrikse kick sees Sharks land Currie Cup

Jordan Hendrikse slotted a sensational 59-metre penalty in extra time to steal a thrilling 16-14 win for the Sharks over his former team, the Lions, in the Currie Cup Final at Ellis Park on Saturday.

After a scoreless first half in trying conditions in a very wet Johannesburg, the second half burst into life – the Lions twice coming from behind and leading (14-13) with time officially up.

However, an offence – the most costly of the 10 penalties they conceded – allowed Hendrikse to aim for the posts.

He showed why he is in the Springbok frame – calmly slotting the match winner from inside his half at a stadium where he performed impressively for years before his return to Durban.

Despite the wet and cold conditions, there was plenty of heat in the game and by the end of the first quarter, the referee already saw the need to chat with the teams about off-the-ball issues.

However, neither team was clinical enough to turn that raw energy into points in the first half.

Despite their scrum dominance, the Lions were also undone by their silly errors – 10 penalties, a silly yellow card and 15 turnovers.

Fixture

Currie Cup

Golden Lions

14 - 16

Full-time

Sharks XV

All Stats and Data

The Sharks, despite also conceding 10 penalties and a yellow card, just seemed the more determined of the two sides and when it was required they remained calm.

It was a nervous start, with neither team able to use any of their early opportunities.

In the 16th minute, the Sharks were reduced to 14 players – Eduan Keyter was yellow-carded for tackling an opponent in the air.

The match remained scoreless throughout the first half, even though the Sharks had enjoyed about 70 percent of the territorial advantage and possession.

It saw the home team making twice the number of tackles than the visitors did, although the 20 missed tackles would have been a concern for the Lions’ coach.

The second half followed the same pattern – the Sharks winning the territory game and the Lions looking for individual brilliance to get them scoreboard dominance.

Points Flow Chart

Sharks XV win +2

Time in lead

5

Mins in lead

20

6%

% Of Game In Lead

24%

24%

Possession Last 10 min

76%

7

Points Last 10 min

6

In the 50th minute, a scrum penalty finally saw the Sharks changing tactics and Siya Masuku taking a shot at goal. He was wide of the mark.

However, minutes later Ethan Hooker finally opened the scoring – Masuku and Jurenzo Julius started a counter that saw Andre Esterhuizen in open space. He put Ethan Hooker clear, the wing opening the Sharks’ account. Masuku added the conversion – 7-0.

The Lions replied almost immediately – scrumhalf Nico Steyn bursting over from a quick-tap penalty five metres out. Sanele Nohamba added the conversion to level the scores up at 7-all.

In the 65th minute, an offside penalty saw Masuku line up at the posts, slotting the kick to put the visitors back in the lead – 10-7.

With 10 minutes remaining, the Lions were reduced to 14 players – replacement Juan Schoeman yellow yellow-carded for a high tackle.

It cost the home team dearly – former Lions star Jordan Hendrikse slotting the penalty to make it a six-point lead for the Sharks, 13-7.

Again the Lions hit back quickly and emphatically – a series of forwards raids allowing Siba Qoma to barge over. Nohamba put the home team in the lead for the first time – the conversion made it 14-13.

The Sharks were throwing everything at the Lions, launching raids deep inside their half. They eventually won the penalty nine metres inside their half.

Jordan Hendrikse, from 59 metres out, slotted the winning kick – 16-14 the final score.

Man of the match: For the Lions, there were several stars – forwards Jaco Visagie, Darrien-Lane Landsberg and Renzo Du Plessis. Utility back Sanele Nohamba produced several sublime moments – despite starting at flyhalf and moving to scrumhalf. The Sharks also had some standout players – mostly in the backs. Ethan Hooker and Jurenzo Julius had their moments. Captain Vincent Tshituka, with nine carries for 100-plus metres, is another very valuable player. Jordan Hendrikse, with his match-winning kick, was in the frame – not to mention his 14 carries for 125 metres. Our award goes to the Sharks’ Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen – 13 carries for 100-plus metres, three linebreaks, four defenders beaten and a crucial assist in the Sharks’ only try. He also made all his tackles.

Moment of the match: There is the Ethan Hooker try in the 51st minute – the first of the match – and the Siba Qoma try to put the Lions in the lead with five minutes remaining. However, you can’t look past Jordan Hendrikse’s match-winning kick – from 59 metres out – in the 83rd minute.

Villain(s) of the match: Both Sharks wing Eduan Keyter and Lions prop Juan Schoeman should know better than the foul-play transgressions that saw them being yellow carded.

The scorers

For the Lions
Tries: Steyn, Qoma
Cons: Nohamba 2

For the Sharks
Try: Hooker
Con: Masuku
Pens: Masuku, Hendrikse 2

Yellow card: Eduan Keyter (Sharks, 16 – foul play, tackling an opponent in the air), Juan Schoeman (Lions, 70 – foul play, high tackle)

Teams:

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naudé.
Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Siba Qoma, 20 Raynard Roets, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Kelly Mpeku.

Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne’ Rahl, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Gerbrandt Grobler, 21 Tinotenda Mavesere, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Lionel Cronje.

Referee: Morné Ferreira
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby, Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Egon Seconds