The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV put on another brave performance before going down 26-17 to the Suzuki Griquas in an uncompromising fourth round Carling Currie Cup clash in Kimberley.
Unbeaten at home going into their third match in Kimberley this season, looking to keep it that way with the remainder of their matches to be played away, the home side played the percentages and capitalised on their dominant possession and territorial stats to exact victory.
The home side possibly shaded the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in terms of attacking minutes in the opening stanza, but the energy and commitment on defence meant the home team’s attack was stunted, failing to prove incisive.
It was from a defensive breakdown where captain Nick Hatton earned a penalty for competing that the first points came, a penalty for his efforts and Vusi Moyo made no mistake with the conversion in the 15th minute.
Suzuki Griquas made pressure count as they scored the game’s opening try, in the 20th minute following strong scrum against the visitors who were down to 14 men for unavoidable cynical defence from a quick tap penalty moments earlier.
Back to 15 men, Hollywoodbets Sharks XV immediately made their intentions known, earning a scrum in the opposition 22 and after a couple of pick-and-go efforts, scrumhalf Ceano Everson found a massive gap in front of him and cantered over the tryline, with Moyo converting for a 10-7 lead after 35 minutes.
The first half closed out with a brave defensive effort from the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV as they held up the marauding home team forwards looking to rumble the ball over the line, but grit and determination kept them out and left the game poised on a knife-edge with the Durbanites leading 10-7.
Suzuki Griquas would probably have felt aggrieved that they didn’t do more with their 60% possession and territory, but they’d found themselves in a real battle for superiority and the visitors weren’t taking the challenge lying down.
A second yellow card, also conceded defending the line, saw the home side once again capitalise on the numbers advantage as they scored their second try in the 54th minute, having dominated the attacking stats in the opening quarter hour of the second period, allowing them to retake the lead with the conversion missing the target, but leading 12-10.
Their joy was short-lived as the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV found themselves deep in enemy territory with a solid build-up and from the ensuing penalty kicked to touch and the home side on a team warning for repeated infringements, Diego Apollis was fed the ball in space and he made no mistake running the try in under the posts, with Moyo converting to make it a 17-12 game.
Suzuki Griquas’ response was immediate, despite having lost a man to the sin bin, as the ball was sent wide from the kick-off and power and pace was enough get over in the corner, with the touchline conversion restoring the two-point lead they had held moments earlier.
A third yellow card to the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, and the fourth of the game, put the visitors in a massive disadvantage with seven minutes remaining as they were forced to chase the game against a highly-charged home side who once again took advantage of their extra numbers to score the bonus point try in the corner and add breathing space to the scoreboard with a seven point margin, the conversion pushing them into a nine point lead with less than five minutes remaining.
There was no further score, although there was action aplenty in the dying minutes before the referee blew for full time.