The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV went down to the Fidelity ADT Lions in their first round Carling Currie Cup clash at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks will look back on a frustrating game in their campaign-opener, when nothing went right for the Durban side and the home side came up trumps at home.
The opening 10 minutes was initially a tentative start with both sides giving the ball plenty of air without much gain, before the home side finally managed to put together a strong attack, having defended earlier, and then spreading the ball wide and having the numbers to score the first try of the match, taking a 5-0 lead with the conversion going wide.
While a mini-battle was going on at lineout time with both sides competing and poaching attacking ball, the home side were growing in confidence, prolonging their attacks and piling on the pressure, allowing them to build momentum that saw them score their second try, a cross-field kick that was well-taken to add a further five points, the conversion once again missing the target for a 10-nil lead after 22 minutes.
Both sides had opportunities to score with the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV being denied by the TMO and then the Lions making gains through some inaccurate defence but good contesting at the breakdown earned a relieving penalty.
But the home side were back on attack, another TMO-referred incident saw the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV lose a player to a yellow card for a deliberate knock-down as the last line of defence and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try to add to the visitors’ woes for a 17-0 lead with five minutes of the half remaining.
The bonus point try came just shy of half-time, urgency on attack foiling the defences, already a man down, and the ball went wide for a simple try, the touchline conversion making it a 24 point game and a big second half required from the young Durban team.
Things didn’t start as planned, a penalty conceded in the second minute pushed the Lions further ahead, and matters went from bad to worse as the returning yellow carded player was replaced by a second yellow card, this time for flyhalf Jean Smith as the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV would play with 14 men for a further 10 minutes.
The Lions continued to pile on the pressure, their speedy play and one-man advantage delivering a fifth try for a 34-nil lead and their scrum dominance at the set-piece continued to add pressure to the under-fire youngsters from Durban.
Phikolomzi “PK” Sobahle made up for his earlier yellow card as he chased a long kick ahead and when two Lions defenders converged on the rolling ball, the elusive ball dribbled between them for the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV wing to dot down in the 70th minute.
The joy was short-lived as the Lions kept the ball alive with a good team try, playing a sevens’ style and running the visitors ragged as they scored a few moments later to push further ahead, taking a 39-5 lead into the final eight minutes.
Another try a minute later edged them further ahead, the Lions’ tighthead prop breaking the line with power and pace for a 46-5 lead.
It wasn’t the start the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV would have hoped for, but they will have learned a lot from this defeat.