Newly-appointed Hollywoodbets Sharks coach JP Pietersen got his tenure off to the perfect start when his team scored a 28-23 bonus point victory over Saracens in an enthralling Investec Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday evening.
One word describes the winning effort – bravery – and throughout, on attack, but mostly on defence, and under enormous pressure, the Hollywoodbets Sharks deservedly came out on top.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks struck first, scoring the opening try in only the third minute, Siya Kolisi going over from a powerful lineout drive after Saracens had conceded a couple of penalties, and George Whitehead’s conversion delivering an incisive early blow.
10 minutes later, it was the turn of Saracens to convert a maul try, not quite as impressive, but nonetheless effective, with the conversion slightly off the mark.
Both sides were battling in the conditions, the persistent rain not making handling or even footing easy and it was clear the game was never going to be able to reach the flowing heights of a dry-weather game.
Despite the conditions – and recent past – this was a Hollywoodbets Sharks team that stepped up in every facet. They showed spirit, commitment and desire and those cannot be bought.
Saracens struck a second blow with a quarter hour in the first half remaining, a desperate effort that was initially repelled, but patience on attack was rewarded by a kick through and the smart play rewarded with their second try, converted for a 12-7 lead.
A scrum penalty for the visitors, this after being dominated earlier at the set-piece, saw them stretch their lead to eight points in the 32nd minute, but the chagrin the Hollywoodbets Sharks forwards felt was demonstrated in the next scrum was emphatic as it was brutal as they totally demolished their opponents to set up the attack that culminated in the second try, Andre Esterhuizen carrying well and then on the recycle, Aphelele Fassi fed the ball in space and making no mistake, with Whitehead adding the extras with three minutes to go.
With the half-time break looming, an act of thuggery, a late and unnecessary charge on Grant Williams gave the home side a penalty, which was kicked to touch and then finished off by Edwill van der Merwe, only for the TMO to call it back for a forward pass, although the referee decided, after a number of replays, that there was no clear evidence and together with the conversion, the Hollywoodbets Sharks took a well-deserved 21-15 lead into the break.
No points were scored in the opening quarter hour of a tight second half, Saracens possibly shading the home side in terms of territory and possession, but their every effort was denied by absolutely outstanding and committed defence, until a breakdown penalty saw them cut the lead to three points in the 54th minute.
Saracens had a man sent to the sin-bin for a shoulder charge tackle to Mapimpi’s face, and from the ensuing advantage, Andre Esterhuizen continued to lead by example taking a high ball, the ball sent to Ethan Hooker who made excellent ground before making his second try assist, this time to Grant Williams who ran the perfect support line inside and went over under the posts for the bonus point and a regulation conversion, and crucially a sizable 10 point lead, 28-18 ahead with the final quarter left to play.
For the ensuing five minutes, Saracens delivered a huge effort on attack, sensing that the result was getting away from them and chasing an important score that would keep them in the game. A driving maul featuring almost every player in their side finally got them the reward they were so desperately searching for, a try in the corner they could not convert to make it a five-point game, 28-23 with 13 minutes remaining.
For the remaining 13 minutes and two of extra time, Saracens tried every rugby tactic in the book to change their fate, hammering away almost non-stop against some of the bravest defence you’ll see, but the commitment, guts and grit kept the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the fight, handing them a well-deserved bonus point victory.