The Cell C Sharks visit to Kimberley ended in disappointment as they went down 48-40 to the Windhoek Draught Griquas in a high-scoring, second round Currie Cup match on Sunday.
Despite the late kick-off, the sweltering heat, in the mid-30s, didn’t hamper either team who engaged in highly energetic rugby that saw the home side initially take the lead, then concede it to a rampant Cell C Sharks side who had the bonus point before half time, then fight back in a twilight zone of a second half.
Griquas capitalised on two early penalties to get out of their 22 and into the Cell C Sharks’, before kicking the first points of the game for a three-nil lead inside the opening few minutes, but a wonderfully-executed 50-22 kick from flyhalf Fred Zeilinga soon after the kick-off got his team into perfect field position, the initial maul was repelled on the line before the ball was recycled with Zeilinga instrumental in Francois Venter’s try, with Zeilinga adding the two.
The Cell C Sharks suffered a double blow on the 10 minute mark after defending a rolling maul, but bringing it down illegally and the referee’s response was to award a penalty try and issue a yellow card, the hosts leading 10-7.
With a one man advantage, Griquas enjoyed a period of sustained attack, but would be thwarted time and again by some committed defence, while flanks Dylan Richardson and James Venter performed their jackal roles with aplomb, earning a pair of penalties to hamper the home side’s efforts.
The quarter hour period between scores produced intrigue as the Cell C Sharks handled the pressure well, before they were restored to 15 men and then struck back with venom, a scrum penalty was kicked to the corner and the ensuing rolling maul was executed immaculately, Fez Mbatha patient behind his marauding pack for the second try, converted for a 14-10 lead.
Two minutes later, the Cell C Sharks strung the perfect attack together, keeping the ball alive and drawing the defence each time before the offloads kept the defence out of action, the backline executing spectacularly before Cameron Wright was fed the final pass for the third try, well converted by Zeilinga for a 21-10 lead on the half hour.
With the Cell C Sharks confidence growing by the minute, their character was tested as they defended their tryline through 10 phases of close-quarter attack, before Richardson earned a try-saving penalty for his wonderful work over the ball.
A minute shy of half-time, an attacking lineout just inside the Griquas’ half was turned into attack, Henco Venter finding space down the touchline before a lovely inside pop pass after drawing in three defenders to Yaw Penxe found the Cell C Sharks wing in space and a canter in for the bonus point try. The extras saw the visitors take a well-deserved 28-10 lead into the break.
Griquas’ half-time talk would have been venomous for they came out of the changerooms breathing fire and scoring their second try inside a minute of the second half, the conversion cutting the lead to 11 points. It was the start of something quite surreal.
A handful of minutes later Griquas went over for their third try, a high-paced attack delivering the rewards, now just four points behind with 35 minutes left to play.
Less than five minutes later, Griquas scored the bonus point try, their third in eight minutes as they managed to find space out wide, retaking the lead they had lost more than half an hour earlier.
With the momentum having turned completely back into the hosts’ favour, the Cell C Sharks found themselves in deep trouble, their lead undermined and back to 14 men after a raft of infringements on defence.
As the game hit the final quarter, a penalty for Griquas pushed them into a 34-28 lead, and they extended it with a TMO referred try five minutes later, the conversion taking them into a 41-28 lead.
With five minutes left to play, a 50-22 afforded Griquas the perfect platform from which to score, a strong lineout maul taking them over the line and a 48-28 lead.
With two minutes remaining, Dylan Richardson powered over for a consolation try with Lionel Cronje converting, and then with time up and the second bonus point within sight, the Cell C Sharks attacked from the kick-off, string together an excellent attack before Richardson was over for his second in as many minutes.
Which left a pressure conversion from out wide, but sadly it drifted away to close out the game.