Rugby is very much about converting small moments into big outcomes, and it was probably not making them happen that proved to be the difference in the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV loss to the DHL Stormers XXIII in Saturday’s Carling Currie Cup match.
Head coach Mike Vowles said afterwards that, “I’m incredibly proud of the group and how they continue to fight,” but felt two turning points probably delivered the outcome, such as it was.
“I think there were probably those two moments either side of half-time, if we had nailed those, it could have been a 14-point swing which would have turned some of the momentum our way,” he admitted.
“If you score first after half-time, you go into the next 40 in a positive state of mind, but missed opportunity took away some of our momentum. The try that was disallowed felt like a sucker-punch, and those were probably the two moments when the game got away from us.”
Vowles had spoken in the lead-up to the match about the need to bring energy and accuracy to the fourth quarter of the games, and felt it was good, but not enough in this game.
“I said to the team afterwards in the changerooms that there has to be belief that the momentum would swing in our favour, we’ve been highly competitive in the games and had one or two things gone our way, we would have had different results.
“All three games have been competitive up until the last quarter, then having to chase the game obviously makes it difficult.
“But I do believe we are close to achieving that, the group is still finding each other, three weeks in, but it is a relatively new group, so the more we play and the more time we spend together, I do believe things will turn.”
He admitted that it was not a lack of effort or commitment to the team cause, but this young group is still finding itself as a collective.
“Anybody that goes on to the field is fighting to perform and potentially to start, and I thought the bench added momentum and impetus to the game, which was we had spoken about in the week, to finish strong.
“But when you’re always chasing the game, when the bench players come on, it’s always harder for them. If we had taken those opportunities and been ahead on the scoreboard, there would have been slightly less pressure on them to come on and try to turn things around in the back-end.”
Speaking of the young SA Under 20 players’ inclusion in his side, he felt that they brought exactly what he wanted to the game.
“They’re really talented young rugby players with a lot of energy and huge potential and it was great to have them back in the mix.”
After three away games in succession, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV are back home this weekend, entertaining the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at Princess Magogo Stadium in kwaMashu on Saturday, something that excites Vowles.
“Playing on the road is always tough, and team you get at their home ground is going to be always slightly better than when they travel, that’s just the nature of the game.
“But we’ve framed this positively, to tour early on in the tournament gave us the opportunity to build cohesion and spend time together. Although the results haven’t all gone our way, it’s really contributed to the fight and the character in the team which is testament to Tom [Thomas Dyer] and his leadership group.”
