Patrick Lambie was central to the Sharks' success
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Matches: Sharks 12 - 6 Stormers

Players/Officials: Patrick Lambie

Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby

Teams: Sharks | South Africa | Stormers

Picture Gallery: Super Rugby - Round 3

The Sharks claimed a 12-6 win over the Stormers in a try-less fixture marred by handling errors that prevented the teams achieving continuity on attack.

The Stormers had the best chance of the match after a kick into the box by fly-half Elton Jantjies, but wing Gio Aplon failed to take the ball cleanly when he had a clear line in front of him.

Patrick Lambie put the first points on the board with a penalty goal for the Sharks, two minutes into the second half, after the Stormers were penalised at a ruck. The Stormers levelled almost immediately after the Sharks were guilty of taking down a driving maul, fullback Joe Pietersen kicking the ensuing penalty goal.

The Stormers lifted their game with greater intensity at the rucks, and big loose forwards Duane Vermeulen and Siya Kolisi put the pressure on the home defence with some strong runs. But the Sharks regained and extended the lead through penalty goals from Lambie, after ruck offences from Andries Bekker, in the 53rd minute, and Steven Kitshoff three minutes later.

Pietersen reduced the margin after Sharks fullback Louis Ludik infringed at a ruck, but the Sharks led again by six points when Lambie converted his fourth penalty goal after a lineout infringement almost immediately from the restart.

The Stormers began to build in a desperate bid to claim a try with an incursion deep into Sharks territory, but replacement loose forward Nizaam Carr was penalised for failing to release the ball. Centre Damian de Allende then made a strong break but Ryan Kankowski made a superb cover tackle.

Jean de Villiers and Aplon cooked up another chance, but De Kock Steenkamp dropped the ball, and then half-back Nick Groom failed to control the ball to let slip another chance.