Challenge Cup result: Poor defence costs Sharks in Lyon defeat

A poor defensive showing from the Sharks ‘B’ team proved costly as they slipped to a 34-21 defeat against Lyon Olympique in their Challenge Cup last 16 match at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland in France on Sunday night.

It was always going to be an uphill battle for a Sharks team full of young rising talents and fringe players, after coach John Plumtree opted to rest the vast majority of his first choice players.

In fact, Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen, who recently returned from injury, was the only player that could be considered a frontline starter when all their players are fit, and he battled manfully in the midfield but couldn’t inspire them to a win.

It was the Sharks that stunned Lyon with a fast start to the match as a couple of early penalties against the hosts allowed them to kick deep into their 22m, where they set up a big maul from the lineout and rumbled over for hooker Fez Mbatha to dot down and flyhalf Siya Masuku to convert.

Lyon immediately struck back two minutes later in the seventh minute with flyhalf Leo Berdeu knocking over a penalty and were soon into their stride with a quickfire double.

In the 17^th minute Lyon attacked down the line and fullback Alexandre Tchaptchet shrugged off two poor attempted tackles to go over in the corner.

Three minutes later lock Theo William picked the ball up at a ruck on the Sharks 22m and caught the defence napping by beating the pillar defence to run in, with the conversion putting them 15-7 up.

Rolling maul

In the 27^th minute Lyon set a rolling maul in the Sharks 22m and hooker Yanis Charcosset broke off and found the visitors defence wanting again as he easily flopped over for the converted score.

Just before halftime Lyon had one final chance to attack from a scrum near the Sharks 22m, allowing outside centre Josiah Maraku to hit a gap and go over to make it 27-7 at the break.

The first 20 minutes of the second half was a scrappy affair as both teams were plagued by mistakes which didn’t allow them to gain the upper hand.

Lyon then made the game safe in the 67^th minute as an attack down the blindside ended with a mismatch of numbers that saw right wing Vincent Rattez in for the converted score.

The Sharks made sure that it wasn’t a complete blowout as they hit back with two late consolation scores.

First through a stunning attack, started by centre Jurenzo Julius, with replacement back Ethan Bester breaking and scrumhalf Bradly Davids passing to lock Corne Rahl to dive over in the 69^th minute.

Just before the fulltime hooter flank Tino Mavesere scored a wonderful solo try from a lineout just outside Lyon’s 22m, with Masuku adding the extras to make the scoreline look better than it arguably should have.

Scorers

Lyon: Tries – Alexander Tchaptchet, Theo William, Yanis Charcosset, Josiah Maraku, Vincent Rattez; Conversions – Leo Berdeu (2), Martin Meliande; Penalty – Berdeu

Sharks: Tries – Fez Mbatha, Corne Rahl, Tino Mavesere; Conversions: Siya Masuku (2), Jean Smith