A dominant performance from an energised Cell C Sharks side saw them romp to a 47-19 Carling Currie Cup victory in an entertaining clash at Jonsson Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.
Despite an early setback, the Cell C Sharks dictated the tempo of the game, enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession and territorial stats and ultimately showed greater energy levels to overpower the visitors.
The Cell C Sharks suffered a punishing blow in the opening minute of the game, the first touch of the ball for the visitors being the try as the ball went loose in our 22 from the kick-off, handing Griquas a seven point lead.
However the Cell C Sharks were stung into reaction and immediately put pressure on Griquas’ retake of the kick-off, stealing possession back and working the ball towards a try, Fez Mbatha scoring off the back of a strong driving maul.
Despite very little possession, Griquas had an opportunity to score with a long penalty but it was poorly struck. It was the precursor to niggle in the game with both sides looking to assert their dominance physically. The visitors didn’t quite get it right and started conceding penalties which allowed the Cell C Sharks to work their way deep into enemy territory and with penalty advantage called, Bosch sent the ball long and high for Werner Kok to soar and pluck it out of the air for our second try. Bosch converted for a 12-7 lead with half an hour’s play behind us.
It was a lead the Cell C Sharks would never relinquish.
With a lot going right for the Cell C Sharks, a penalty for excellent work on the ground was taken quickly, Aphelele Fassi kicked for the corner for Yaw Penxe to chase. The Griquas’ fullback got their first but couldn’t hold on to the ball and with two defenders to beat, Penxe was simply too powerful and scored the team’s third try, 19 unanswered points with five minutes remaining.
With time up, the bonus point try was scored by captain Lukhanyo Am, another kick through from Bosch, this time a grubber into the in-goal area and Am winning the race by a millimetre after the Cell C Sharks had won a scrum penalty and then driven the maul close to the tryline before Bosch was on point with his kick.
At 26-7 up at half-time, the Cell C Sharks were well in control of the game on the scoreboard but just as importantly, had control of the game, the set-piece and were able to dictate to the tempo of the match.
The second half started off in similar fashion to the energy of the first with a wonderful run from Sikhumbuzo Notshe as he stepped his way through the defence to score the fifth try after an excellent turnover earlier in the movement. Bosch converted for a 33-7 lead and with five minutes of play over, the result appeared to be secure.
As the game got into the final quarter, sustained pressure from the Cell C Sharks against a Griquas’ side that seemed to have run out of answers saw another driving maul end in a score, this time Dylan Richardson the man in possession. Bosch converted as the Cell C Sharks hit 40 points.
Griquas finally managed to score again, having been forced to defend for much of the 67 minutes between their opening try and their second, showing courage despite the odds to score from a driving maul at close-quarters.
But there was no keeping this euphoric Cell C Sharks side down and with Griquas battling to get out of their 22, the ball was kicked crossfield to try to clear their lines, only for Fassi to read the trajectory perfectly as he plucked the ball from the hands of the would-be receiver to score yet another try, Bosch’s conversion taking his side closer and closer to the half century.
With less than three minutes remaining, the Cell C Sharks took a quick lineout but it was well intercepted for the visitors’ third try.
Despite having scored first and last, Griquas had been blown away by a Cell C Sharks side intent on putting in a strong, committed performance and seven tries to three was a story of a dominant display from the home side.