FULL TIME: SHARKS 14-36 CARDIFF
A dreadful game comes to an end at last. The Sharks were poor throughout and Cardiff were better but not great. Cardiff take five points away from Kings Park.
CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH, 14-36:
Bosch converts with a snap drop.
TRY, SHARKS, BOSCH, 12-36:
Bosch hacks a charged down kick ahead and dives on it to score.
Dyantyi motors after a grubber but cannot get to it before the ball goes out.
Cardiff knock on after a hoist and the Sharks will have a scrum just inside the Cardiff half.
CONVERSION, CARDIFF, THOMAS, 7-36:
Thomas converts from out wide.
TRY, CARDIFF, GRADY, 7-34:
Grady gets in to score and the Sharks look like a beaten side.
The Sharks cough up the penalty and call the referee a cheat and get marched back ten and earn a final warning.
Bosch kicks a penalty kick into the corner and the Sharks will try to get something from this game.
Cardiff scramble it clear having got back to cut out an attempted grubber from Bosch. The kick isn't long and the Sharks can attack from the lineout.
Cardiff spill the ball after a lineout which they fed after the Sharks ran out of room on attack.
The Sharks catch Cardiff napping out wide and win a penalty at the breakdown. Penxe did well there. The Sharks don't get much mileage on the kick though.
Now the Sharks knock on and Cardiff delay play as they have a front ranker down.
Cardiff throw a pass into touch and the Sharks are given another let-off by a visiting side who have also been poor in a dour second half from both teams.
Cardiff get another scrum penalty and the undermanned Sharks pack is being monstered.
The Sharks cannot get the ball out of a maul and Cardiff will have the scrum feed just inside their own 22.
Cardiff counter well but then lose their feet at the ruck and the Sharks use the penalty to set up a lineout just outside the Cardiff 22.
Cardiff go in high on Appollis and the Sharks use the penalty to set up a lineout inside the Cardiff 22 but their maul is stopped and Cardiff win the scrum and that's a soft turnover.
Cardiff get onto a loose ball but they knock on and the Sharks will have another scrum this one a little closer to the halfway line.
The Sharks get a scrum after Cardiff spill the ball but Keyter also gets a lecture for backchat and foul language.
Cardiff's scrum monsters the Sharks and they win another penalty. Cardiff put it into the corner and will try to drive over. They get blown for obstruction though and the Sharks get a small let-off.
The Sharks knock on as they try to carry away from their own line. Really poor effort from the home team.
The Sharks stop the Cardiff maul and win a scrum deep in their own 22.
Rahl loses his feet at the ruck and the Sharks give away a penalty while in possession.
PENALTY, CARDIFF, THOMAS, 7-29:
Thomas slots the penalty.
Cardiff get a scrum penalty and cannot use the advantage and will come back for a shot at goal.
Cardiff and the Sharks wheel around and the scrum has to be reset.
Cardiff restart and Notshe gathers. The Sharks carry away from their 22 but a poor kick sees Thomas sprint through and get taken down at the Sharks 22. The Sharks spill a charged down kick and Cardiff have an attacking scrum.
HALF TIME: SHARKS 7-26 CARDIFF
The Sharks have been woeful throughout the first half and are lucky to only trail by 19. Cardiff have taken their chances well and played percentage rugby. The Sharks will do well to avoid a big blowout loss.
Cardiff don't use the ball quick enough and the Sharks get a scrum which might be the last act of the first half.
The Sharks scramble back again and just manage to clear their lines after Cardiff looked certain to score.
Thomas cannot convert from out wide.
TRY, CARDIFF, BOTHAM, 7-26:
The Sharks wilt at maul time and Botham finishes well.
Amateur hour from the inexperienced Sharks as they butcher a ruck possession and give away a penalty on their own 22.
Cardiff spill the restart and find themselves deep in their 22 but the clearance kick is touched by the Sharks and Cradiff have the lineout feed on their own 22.
CONVERSION, CARDIFF, THOMAS, 7-21:
Thomas converts the try from out wide.
TRY, CARDIFF, HALAHOLO, 7-19:
Halaholo turns out of a tackle and powers to the line to score a great try.
Cardiff threaten again but the kick ahead from Cardiff hits a Sharks player and goes out. Cardiff have an attacking lineout
CONVERSION, SHARKS, CRONJE, 7-14:
Cronje converts the try and the Sharks are back in it to some extent.
TRY, SHARKS, APPOLLIS, 5-14:
Cardiff giftwrap a try for the Sharks as they steal the ball and then lose it on the ground and see Appollis dive over to score.
The Sharks set up another lineout on the Cardiff 22 with a penalty kick from the lineout and they maul and earn advantage.
Cardiff exit well and the Sharks will feed a lineout just inside the Cardiff half.
CONVERSION, CARDIFF, THOMAS, 0-14:
Thomas converts and this could already turn into a procession.
TRY, CARDIFF, DONNELL, 0-12:
Donnell gets over as the numbers tell.
RED CARD, SHARKS, MAVESERE:
Mavasere will go into the bin after he hits Winnet as he was going down, he will get a red card for that as the referee thinks it was very dangerous.
Cardiff get a free kick at scrumtime and opt for another scrum.
Chamberlain is in space but he received a forward pass and Cardiff will have a scrum feed ten inside their own half.
CONVERSION, CARDIFF, THOMAS, 0-7:
Thomas converts the try.
TRY, CARDIFF, LAWRENCE, 0-5:
Lawrence powers over eventually and Cardiff are first on the board.
Cardiff get another penalty and set the lineout five out. Notshe is warned for infringing aagin.
Cardiff cannot use an advantage on halfway and they come back for the kick. Cardiff set up a lineout just outside the Sharks 22.
Cardiff steal the lineout but nearly cough up a soft try as the ball bounces loose. Cardiff scramble it clear and the Sharsk have another attacking lineout but they have butchered it and Cardiff can counter.
The Sharks send up a hoist and this time they chase well and win a penalty at the breakdown. Cardiff seal off at the ruck and the Sharks reject the shot at goal.
The Sharks knock on and we will have a scrum close to the Cardiff 22 with Cardiff putting the ball in.
Cardiff kick again and Cronje gets back to gather and kick long. Cardiff get across and kick to touch again and the Sharks will have another lineout just inside the Cardiff half.
The Sharks bash up to within five off the Cardiff line but Adams gets onto the ball and wins a penalty for Cardiff. They clear their lines with the kick and will have a lineout five from halfway.
Cardiff keep it simple and find touch five from halfway and the Sharks will try again from the lineout. The Sharks win a penalty after Cardiff stray offside following a charged down kick.
Cronje probes with a kick after the Sharks are halted in their attempt to bash over the advantage line with ball in hand. Cardiff have the lineout inside their own 22.
The match is delayed as the referee needs his mic sorted out.
KICK OFF: The Sharks get us underway with a deep kick into the Cardiff 22. Cardiff find touch with a box kick up near ten from halfway.
Cardiff: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 10 Ben Thomas, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 James Botham, 6 Ben Donnell, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 3 Rhys Litterick, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Corey Domachowski.
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Rhys Carré, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Tinus de Beer, 22 Jacob Beetham, 23 Mason Grady.
Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Eduan Keyter, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Tiaan Fourie, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Braam Reyneke, 18 IG Prinsloo, 19 Thomas Dyer, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Anthony Volmink.
Good day and a warm welcome to our coverage of the United Rugby Championship match between the Sharks and Cardiff from Kings Park in Durban.
