Sharks monster Griffons to earn semifinal spot

Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi helped himself to four tries as the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV ran in 11 tries as they routed the Novavit Griffons 75-19 in their Carling Currie Cup match at a blustery Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.

With one round to play, the win ensures that the Sharks qualify for the semifinals of the competition behind the Fidelity ADT Lions and the Vodacom Bulls. Considering they lost their first three matches, the Sharks have done particularly well, winning five and drawing one of their last six games.

While the Sharks played a young, inexperienced team in most of their matches, this wasn’t the case at Kings Park on Saturday, with John Plumtree – returning as coach – opting to play some of the players who are likely to feature in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship which begins in September.

Mapimpi wasn’t the only Sharks’ winger to enjoy himself, with Eduan Keyter picking up a hat-trick of tries.

At times, the game seemed like a dry run for the Sharks for bigger tests with the backs and forwards showing good handling skills as they ran the ball from almost everywhere against their outmatched opponents who have lost all nine of their matches this season. As is often the case when attack is the order of the day, the Sharks made a number of errors. Still, they will have found the outing more than useful.

The course of the match was set from the kick-off with Mapimpi chasing down a long kick into Griffons’ territory before steaming over down the left touchline. His fellow wing, Keyter, was soon into his stride a few minutes later, also cruising over. Both tries were converted by veteran flyhalf Lionel Cronje who finished with a try and six conversions.

Congratulations to the Champion of the match 🔥🙌#CarlingCurrieCup #SHAvGRIF pic.twitter.com/zN7ybu2I8N

— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) August 31, 2024

The Griffons at least made a brave effort to take the play to the Sharks, and they were rewarded with two tries from their hooker, Willem van den Heever. His second involved an outrageous dummy down the right wing as the visitors contributed their fair share of entertainment in the first half which produced eight tries.

The Sharks, however, were always way too skilled for their opponents, and Keyter popped up on the left wing to score the home team’s bonus-point try after 23 minutes.

Cronje even joined in the fun shortly afterwards, breaking the line and running in a try from 50 metres.

The Sharks led 40-12 at the break, and it could have been more if they had been a little more accurate in their execution.

With the win behind their backs in the second half, the Griffons exerted some early pressure, without managing to reduce the scoreline. Keyter then picked up his second try after some brilliant handling by the backs and forwards enabled Jordan Hendrikse to power through before releasing Keyter to the line. The hard-running abrasive winger then grabbed his third before Mapimpi literally ran through the Griffons’ team from first-phase ball to secure his fourth.

At this stage, the Griffons looked overwhelmed, but the likes of wing Andrew Kota and Gurshwin Nikhole Wehr showed good pace and brilliant stepping on occasion with the latter scoring his fifth Currie Cup try of the season to conclude the scoring two minutes before the end.

Sharks’ flyhalf Siya Masuku replaced Cronje midway through the second half and contributed four conversions and some fine generalship in his first game for a couple of months.