The Hollywoodbets Sharks were competitive and determined, but it was the Sale Sharks who came away with the spoils in their third round Investec Champions Cup clash on Saturday, the home side securing a 26-10 victory.
The opening scrum was a thing of beauty, a young front row anchored by Rugby World Cup winner Vincent Koch demolished their opponents to set the tone for scrum dominance and early psychological advantage.
Siya Masuku opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a penalty from right in front, but minutes later when Sale found their attack in the Hollywoodbets Sharks danger zone, they opted for the lineout option from a penalty and struck gold with the opening try in the 12th minute, the conversion pushing them 7-3 ahead.
There was no further scoring, not through lack of trying, and where the Hollywoodbets Sharks were determined in their attack, Sale were up to the task on defence, brave against a sustained quarter almost completely dominated by the visiting Durban side.
They produced a strong team effort on attack, Tino Mavesere leading the charge with some impressive solo efforts, but they were denied by the home side’s physicality on defence.
Sale struck first blood 10 minutes into a tight second half, a strong maul from an attacking lineout in the 22 and they were relentless in edging forward and over the tryline, with the successful conversion pushing them into a 14-3 lead.
Their third try, five minutes later, came from another penalty kicked to touch, this time the ball sent wide off the maul and the wing finding himself in acres of space out wide to extend the lead to 16 points.
Moments later some individual brilliance and blistering pace from Manu Tshituka saw the big loose forward take the ball just inside the enemy half and race downfield, seeing off the desperate efforts of the backs who couldn’t keep up. Masuku converted to cut the lead, but within two minutes, Sale struck back, some elusive running handing them the bonus point, and a 26-10 lead with 16 minutes remaining.
With time up, the Hollywoodbets Sharks had one last opportunity, but the penalty kicked to touch and from the resultant lineout maul, Sale managed to disrupt the drive and close out the game in their favour.