The Cell C Sharks absorbed everything the Novavit Griffons threw at them in the return leg Currie Cup clash match at Down Touch Investments Stadium on Friday afternoon before blitzing them in the second half to secure a bonus point 35-9 victory.
This round 12 match was a game of two distinctly contrasting halves, the home side competitive and leading at half-time, before the Cell C Sharks came out from the break breathing fire and when they ignited the after-burners, there was no stopping them as they dominated the second 40 in fine style, blowing the game away and securing the double, having earned a 32-16 first round victory at Hollywoodbets Kings Park earlier in the competition.
The first quarter was a high-paced affair with both sides giving the ball plenty of air in the territorial battle, but it was the home side who scored first, the second bite at the cherry securing a three-pointer after missing an earlier penalty.
The Griffons had come to play and were able to frustrate the Cell C Sharks, to the point of securing a second penalty a few minutes later to extend their lead to 6-nil after 22 minutes.
It took until after the first half hour for the next score, this time Lionel Cronje having the easiest of tries after Reniel Hugo had pressured a Griffons’ clearance kick, charged the ball down and then the home side unable to secure possession behind their tryline. Cronje converted his try to take the lead.
The joy was short-lived as the Griffons added a third penalty to go ahead again before being forced to absorb sustained pressure in the closing minutes, but they clung on to head into the half-time break marginally ahead, 9-7, having never allowed the Cell C Sharks to dictate the flow of the game.
The Cell C Sharks showed intent from the first whistle of the second half, securing possession from their kick-off and then hammering away before Yaw Penxe was over in the corner inside the opening two minutes of the game to retake the lead. Cronje pushed his team 14-9 ahead with the touchline conversion.
Two minutes later, the on-fire Cell C Sharks were throwing everything into attack and were rewarded with some enterprising play, James Venter and Dylan Richardson instrumental in the move that was finished off by the remaining member of the loose trio, eighthman Celimpilo Gumede. Cronje made no mistake and the Durban side had raced into a 21-9 lead.
Ntuthuko Mchunu barged huis way over as the game hit the final quarter, a well-worked effort that came off accuracy and intensity and the bonus point was secured. Crucially, the successful conversion pushed the Cell C Sharks into an unassailable 28-9 lead as the Griffons found themselves in deep trouble.
With 10 seconds left on the clock, a frenetic attack paid dividends, the big ball-carrying forwards setting up Nevaldo Fleurs to score the fifth try of the match, Cronje maintaining his 100% kicking record to secure a most satisfying 35-9 victory, one that installs the Cell C Sharks as log leaders at the conclusion of this game.