Buenos Aires – Flyhalf Patrick Lambie slotted a late penalty to give the Sharks a 25-22 win over the Jaguares in their Super Rugby match at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani in the early hours of Sunday morning (South African time). The Sharks led 19-17 at halftime.
The Sharks were outscored three tries to one in the match, but they showed a lot of courage and character to secure a historic victory in the Argentine capital.
No 8 Dan du Preez scored the Sharks’ solitary try on the night, while Lambie scored 20 points with the boot.
The Jaguares took the lead in the seventh minute after Joaquin Tuculet broke down the field before releasing Tomas Lavaninni to score the opening try of the match.
The Sharks hit back three minutes later when Lambie slotted a penalty after the Jaguares were penalised in their own half. And the Springbok flyhalf soon made it a one-point game when he kicked another penalty for the Sharks.
The Jaguares, though, were full of running, and Martin Landajo scored their second try of the game in the 17th minute. But Lambie kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Sharks, and he kicked his third penalty 10 minutes later.
Lambie kicked a fourth penalty in the 29th minute, but the Sharks would take the lead soon after the Jaguares’ Pablo Matera was shown yellow in the 33rd minute. Du Plessis went over for a try in the 34th minute after a strong push by the Sharks’ forwards.
Jaguares flyhalf Nicholas Sanchez and Lambie traded penalties at the start of the second half, but the Argentine side got stronger and stronger as the game wore on.
Sharks found themselves down to 10 men in the 69th minute after the replacemenrt back S’bura Sithole, who was had only been on the field for two minutes, was shown a yellow card for an infringement at the breakdown.
Like the Sharks, the Jaguares took advantage of their one-man advantage and prop Santiago Garcia Botta scored for the home side to draw the scores level at 22-22 in the 72nd minute
But Lambie showed great composure with a pressure penalty to win the game for the South African side in the 79th minute.
Scorers: Jaguares: Tries: Tomas Lavanini, Martín Landajo and prop Santiago García Botta. Conversions: Nicolas Sanchez (2). Penalty: Sanchez.
Sharks: Try: Daniel du Preez. Conversion: Pat Lambie. Penalties: Lambie (6).
African News Agency