The Cell C Sharks were simply too strong for DHL Western Province in an entertaining Currie Cup coastal derby clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, running out deserved 20-7 victors on Sunday afternoon.
It was an enthralling contest, a high-paced action-packed game in which the Cell C Sharks enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory and aided by a majestic, dominant scrum and some sublime defence, kept the visitors down to just one try.
Leading from start to finish, the Cell C Sharks never looked like losing and the first five-pointer came after a well-worked effort that started from the Cell C Sharks half, Bradley Davids juggling the ball kicked at him before he executed the perfect 50-22 kick and from the ensuing attacking lineout, the forwards rumbled the ball up before sending it out wide with Yaw Penxe diving over in the corner for a five-nil lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
Just shy of the end of the first quarter, a rare incursion into the Cell C Sharks 22 broke down and they countered before Fred Zeilinga added his team’s second 50-22 kick and from the ensuing attack, Province were penalised on defence and Zeilinga was successful with the penalty to push his team into an eight-nil lead.
The Cell C Sharks extended their lead just before the 25th minute, Province penalised and from the lineout, James Venter broke away to set the attack up before wing Phikolomzi Sobahle found himself in space and he raced to the corner for his first try in the Black & White jersey for a 13-0 lead.
Province finally managed to get onto the scoreboard with a high kick that the swirling wind took out of the hands and bounced kindly for the chasing player who dotted down, the conversion from out wide cutting the lead to six points approaching the half hour.
The final 10 minutes was a helter-skelter of events as the Cell C Sharks threw everything into attack and Province were forced into a secondary role of energy-sapping defence, but somehow managing to prevent a third try that was agonisingly close to becoming a reality.
Province had a rare opportunity to strike for points after scoring a penalty after the first 40 were up, but the kick failed to find touch and the ball was kicked out to mark the end of the half, with the Cell C Sharks leading 13-7 with mixed emotions, feeling that they had been well on top but some frustration that they hadn’t been able to put more points on the scoreboard.
The third quarter was once again characterised by some exciting attack from the Cell C Sharks, Province once more reduced to the role of defenders, but the frustrations off all the opportunities created but not finished would continue to frustrate their brave efforts.
When Province did eventually get some time on the ball, their efforts were thwarted by a powerful Cell C Sharks scrum that continuously monstered their opponents’ set-piece, a demoralising aspect for the visitors who weren’t allowed to launch at all.
The third try came off a surreal passage of play, the ball being given plenty of air from one half to the other before a wayward kick from Province saw Yaw Penxe send the perfect kick into space downfield. Two Province players descended on the ball to field it just shy of the tryline, but ran into each other leaving the ball waiting for Penxe’s attention and he went over for the try that took them into a strong lead, Zeilinga adding the extras for a 20-7 lead with less than 15 minutes remaining.
Province had a few chances over the ensuing 10 minutes to strike back, knowing that two converted tries in the final 15 minutes could gift them the game, but a combination of errors and brave defence countered their best efforts as they watched the result slipping away.
Ultimately, the Cell C Sharks never looked in danger of losing and will take huge confidence out of this performance.