In the penultimate round of the pool stages of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, the Cell C Sharks defeated Benetton 43-33 at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Friday evening.
Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell admitted this week that his team were in a must-win position, Benetton too, and both sides threw everything into this action-packed game.
Benetton, with 11 internationals in their starting XV certainly came to Durban with a mission and they contributed to a high-class, exciting game of URC rugby. The Cell C Sharks had to come back from an early deficit and the game hung on a knife-edge from start to finish with neither side able to advance too far ahead of the other.
Ultimately, a strong forward effort delivered the platform for the victory.
The Italians struck first blood, attacking off a lineout deep in the Cell C Sharks half and rapid recycling kept the attack alive to score a try inside the opening two minutes with a very good conversion from the touchline.
They doubled their score in a dream start, the Cell C Sharks again pinned in their 22 and a chicken wing pass sending the final player into space to score under the posts for a psychologically bruising 14-nil lead.
But a strong effort from the Cell C Sharks forwards who smashed their way at the defence before Vincent Tshituka finally punched his way over for his team’s opening try in the 15th minute, with Curwin Bosch adding the extras.
A brilliant scrum effort from the Cell C Sharks forwards, dominating their opponents and sending their pack reversing at a rate of knots near their tryline, afforded scrumhalf Grant Williams plenty of space to dive through and over, with Bosch’s conversion levelling matters with a little over five minutes of the entertaining first half remaining.
Their commanding scrum performance had Benetton in real trouble to the extent that they replaced their hooker and loosehead prop before half-time. There was a late flurry of action as the Cell C Sharks pressed hard to get the score that would send them into the lead, but the Italians managed to ward off the attack and the sides went into half-time with the spoils shared at 14-apiece.
The Cell C Sharks started the second half like Benetton had the first, scoring inside the opening two minutes, captain Siya Kolisi rounding off a sweeping movement that started with Makazole Mapimpi taking a wonderful high ball, Werner Kok smashing at the defence as only he can, and the ball kept alive. Bosch converted and his team had the lead for the first time in the game.
Benetton created something out of nothing, a high kick into space, the ball regathered and then grubbered ahead for the Italians’ third try, although the conversion hit the upright to keep the home side in a lead.
But it didn’t take long for a brilliant recovery, Werner Kok instrumental in forcing a turnover with his brave countering, the ball went wide and Boeta Chamberlain sent the ball into space and Williams pounced and with his turn of pace, there was no stopping him as he went over for the bonus point try, Bosch maintaining his 100% record to deliver a nine point lead with 25 minutes remaining.
The action continued unabated, this time Benetton looking dangerous on attack and scoring their bonus point try in the corner, the successful conversion keeping them two points away at 28-26 going into the final quarter.
The game continued to see-saw as Mapimpi went over in the corner for his team’s fifth try, the forwards smashing the ball up before it was sent down the line to the Bok wing who made no mistake to take his team into a 33-26 lead.
What followed was quite surreal, Benetton looking dangerous and coming close to scoring, then losing the ball, the Cell C Sharks countered and Mapimpi closed out the action with the sixth try to open up a quality lead, Bosch’s conversion stretching it to 40-26.
There was no letting up as Benetton then had their turn, a very good solo effort to reward them with their fifth try with 10 minutes remaining.
Going into the final minute, a penalty from Bosch stretched his team into an unassailable lead, having earlier faced the threat of the possibility of a draw. Benetton lost the ball on attack in the next opportunity and that was the game over for them.