Sharks get bonus point win over Blues

Curwin Bosch scored a 78th minute try to ensure the Cell C Sharks kept their 100% record in this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby tournament in tact with a 26-7 win over the Blues.

A sublime first half effort and some grit and determination in the second half when the Blues stormed back into the game saw the Sharks take the maximum points on offer and give their fans something to shout about.

But coach Robert du Preez senior won’t be happy about the half dozen tries his side left on the table, many of which came from countless penalties turned down to go for the sideline.

And while the scoreline may not reflect it, the Blues were certainly a lot more difficult in the second half to contain, and had a try disallowed for flyhalf Otere Black that could have made things a lot closer.

In the end the grit and determination in the blistering heat was the Sharks’ ally, as they held out to record a very good victory against a resurgent New Zealand team.

There were some exceptional Sharks performances, not least by Akker van der Merwe and Coenie Oosthuizen up front, Jacques Vermeulen and Tyler Paul looked good while out wide Lukhanyo Am was class once again and easily the best back on the field. Makazole Mapimpi and rising star Aphelele Fassi also caught the eye.

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It was Fassi’s try which opened proceedings early on, with the Sharks capitalising from a overthrown lineout that was snaffled by Van der Merwe, then sent wide for Am to toe it ahead and Mapimpi to kick it on in the sprint, then collect before the inside offload to Fassi to score.

The Sharks second try was more textbook, this time coming from a lineout drive that Van der Merwe latched on at the back to end up at the end of the pile of bodies to score.

The Sharks kept up the pressure, but messed up their finishing several times and could have easily ballooned the score in the first half, but did at least receive some reward when after heaps of pressure close to the line, the ball was sent wide and Robert du Preez junior cut inside the defence to score under the posts.

At 19-0 at the break the Blues looked harassed and out of it, but found some life in the second half when they started to make inroads into the Sharks territory and found their passes suddenly sticking.

The Sharks didn’t help themselves by giving away several penalties as the Blues grew in confidence. But they were given a break when Otere Black went over for what seemed to be the first try, but TMO Marius Jonker overruled it when video evidence showed Vermeulen being held back as the scrum broke up.

It didn’t bother the Blues as they hammered the Sharks defence shortly afterwards, then looped a pass out wide to replacement winger Tanielu Tele’a who ran around to score their only try.

With the Sharks looking on the back foot they lost Ruan Botha to a yellow card for cynical play, but managed to stop the Blues more than once when they could have let a soft try through.

And with time counting down Bosch took a chance and rushed up in defence, intercepting the pass and then running 70 metres to put the final nail in the Blues coffin, and leave the Sharks management highly relieved.

SCORERS

CELL C SHARKS – tries: Aphelele Fassi, Akker van der Merwe, Robert du Preez, Curwin Bosch. Conversions: Du Preez (3)

BLUES – try: Tanielu Tele’a. Conversion: Otere Black