Lambie hits Highlanders
Pat Lambie was the Sharks hero as he scored all of his side's points in a crucial 28-16 home win over the Highlanders in Durban.
Last Updated: 05/05/12 7:05pm
Pat Lambie was the Sharks hero as he scored all of his side's points in a crucial 28-16 home win over the Highlanders in Durban.
The 21-year-old South Africa international scored the Sharks' only try on the hour while also kicking over 23 points to keep their finals hopes alive and also enhance his growing reputation.
The Highlanders, who started the round in the wild card places, had taken a 16-15 second-half lead following a Kurt Baker try but fly-half Lambie's class then settled an error-strewn contest.
Lambie's boot dominated a tryless opening half as he kicked over five penalties, to Mike Delany's three, to give the Sharks a 15-9 half-time advantage.
Sin bin
The hosts had done so despite Jacques Botes sitting out 10 minutes in the sin bin while Doug Tietjens left the field with a serious looking leg injury.
The Highlanders looked like taking advantage after the break when Baker sent them ahead for the first time on 50 minutes, scoring in the right corner to reward concerted pressure from the visitors.
But from there Lambie took over and after quickly reclaiming the lead with a pair of penalties he crossed himself.
Hosea Gear failed to deal with Keegan Daniel's kick and the fly-half was on hand to make him pay and cross for a decisive score that he duly converted.