The Cell C Sharks kicked off the 2022 Carling Currie Cup competition with the narrowest of victories, defeating Tafel Lager Griquas 24-23 at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Wednesday evening.
It was an absorbing contest between the two sides and produced moments of brilliance that wowed the 2000 Covid-restricted crowd who were treated to some uncompromising rugby.
The game ebbed and flowed in the opening quarter, both sides enjoying periods of relative dominance in ball possession but neither able to capitalise on any territorial advantage, before the Cell C Sharks stuck first blood, flyhalf Jordan Chait converting a penalty off a dominant scrum to go 3-nil ahead in the 20th minute.
The opening try came the way of the home side, Chait exploiting a gap though the midfield to make the break that set up Cameron Wright,, with Chait converting to set up a 10 point lead with the match heading for half an hour’s play.
Griquas quickly worked their way into the Cell C Sharks’ 22 but couldn’t close out and had to settle for a converted penalty to finally open their scoring.
A second penalty just before half-time took Griquas to within four points and with time up, they had a further opportunity to cut the deficit even further, but the long range effort went narrowly wide before the half-time whistle was blown, the Cell C Sharks enjoying a 10-6 lead at the break.
The second half started off with a bang as the Cell C Sharks took advantage of early possession and territorial advantage, kicking a penalty to touch and from the ensuing lineout maul, hooker Dan Jooste broke off the back and smashed his way through two defenders to score in the corner for a 15-6 lead.
Murray Koster kicked the Cell C Sharks further ahead with a three-pointer following a particularly energetic attack that had Griquas in severe trouble and his team’s ferocity continued to pressure the visitors into mistakes and indiscipline.
Sadly the Cell C Sharks were reduced to 14 men for a TMO-referred tackle and from the subsequent lineout maul, Griquas managed to drive the ball over for their first try as the game hit the final quarter. The conversion took them to within five points at 18-13 down and 17 minutes to play.
A Sanele Nohamba penalty from 45m out with just over 10 minutes left pushed the lead to eight points and a psychological boost for the home side, but the one man advantage at scrum time saw Griquas earn a kickable penalty which reduced the margin back to five points.
Showing remarkable composure, Nohamba stepped up to convert his second penalty and restore the eight point margin with just a couple of minutes of the game remaining. It would be the lead required.
With full time beckoning, Griquas managed their second try, but it would only provide the consolation of a bonus point and the conversion left them behind by a single point.