The Cell C Sharks led from start to finish as they saw off the visiting Ospreys 25-10 in a tough Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Friday evening.
The Welsh found themselves under the cosh early, good lineout competing and pressure at scrum time saw the Cell C Sharks gain the advantage that saw them exact the first points of the game, Curwin Bosch, back from a long stint on the injury list, converting a penalty just outside the opening 10 minutes of the game.
The second penalty came shy of the 20th minute, a powerful Cell C Sharks scrum pushing the Ospreys’ forwards off their put-in and Bosch was once again on target to double the score to six-nil.
Showing great energy and intensity, the Cell C Sharks kept their hold on the game and dictated the pace but some brave defence – and that’s what the visitors were reduced to – prevented any further score.
Despite seeing so little of the ball in the first half, it was Ospreys who struck first after half-time, scoring the first try of the match, in the corner, after a sustained build-up. The touchline conversion went wide as the Welsh could not take the lead.
Their jubilation was short-lived as the Cell C Sharks struck back almost immediately, taking the attack into the 22 and then a strong driving maul was finished off by Sikhumbuzo Notshe in the second effort to restore the six point lead with half an hour remaining.
Ospreys scored their second try with a quarter hour of the game left to play, a strong maul effort following a scrum penalty getting the rewards as they took the game to within one point, but the missed conversion meant the Cell C Sharks continued to enjoy the lead.
With less than five minutes remaining, the six point lead was once again restored, Curwin Bosch scything through the defence at pace following a series of pick and drives from the forwards that sucked in the defence and afforded the backline the space to manoeuvre.
Bosch converted his try to push the lead to a crucial eight point margin and beyond a single score for the visitors.
James Venter put the game out of doubt has he powered his way over in the last act of the game, a penalty kicked to touch before the forwards did their job of wearing down the opposition’s defence.
Vodacom Man of the Match Curwin Bosch converted to round off an emphatic victory.
Captain Phepsi Buthelezi paid tribute to the crowd that came out in support, admitted that the team felt the energy.