Kobus van Wyk scored a brace of tries, while Curwin Bosch kicked 18 points, as the Sharks secured a 38-30 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
In the context of the Sharks’ season, and their standing in the highly competitive Africa 2 conference, this was a massive result.
It ensures that they remain in the mix with the Lions and Jaguares, while such a clinical win away from home should provide them with plenty of confidence heading into the remainder of the season.
Last weekend, the Sharks produced an indifferent performance against the Kings and were fortunate to come away with a win, but they appeared to be stung into action as they started proceedings against the Cheetahs with real intent.
In particular, the Sharks dominated the collisions early on, with the reunited lock pairing of Ruan Botha and Etienne Oosthuizen making their presence felt as the visitors looked to deliver on their pre-match promise of producing a clinical defence effort.
The Sharks’ encouraging start to proceedings was duly rewarded with a handy 15-3 lead as Lwazi Mvovo and Van Wyk finished off well-worked tries within the opening half an hour, with their second try coming while Cheetahs flanker Oupa Mohoje was in the sin bin.
Yet, somewhat against the run of play, the Cheetahs created something from nothing as returning captain Francois Venter took advantage of a defensive lap to dart over to score under the posts.
That score, followed soon after by a yellow card to Sharks prop Coenie Oosthuizen, suddenly served as a considerable momentum changer.
First, Fred Zeilinga slotted a penalty, while just before the break, the Cheetahs created an all-important try for JW Jonker, who had been a late replacement for Sergeal Petersen. That score ensured the hosts went into the break leading 20-15.
Zeilinga extended that lead with a three-pointer soon after the restart, but momentum continued to ebb and flow as Van Wyk scored an opportunistic try, while a long-range penalty from Bosch edged the Sharks into a two-point lead heading into the final quarter.
The decisive moment in the match then came when Cheetahs fullback Clayton Blommetjies failed to exit from within his 22. As he collected a long kick, he unwittingly stepped on the touchline, and from the resultant lineout, Sharks replacement Dan du Preez barged over to score.
A superb touchline conversion from Bosch opened up a nine-point buffer, and he slotted another two penalties before full-time to continue an outstanding performance from the kicking tee.
The Cheetahs had the last say with a try to Raymond Rhule, but the Sharks will happily bank the four log points.
Cheetahs – Tries: Francois Venter, JW Jonker, Raymond Rhule. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (3). Penalties: Zeilinga (3).
Sharks – Tries: Lwazi Mvovo, Kobus van Wyk (2), Dan du Preez. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (3). Penalties: Bosch (4).
Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 JW Jonker, 13 Francois Venter (c), 12 Nico Lee, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Niell Jordaan, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Niel Marais, 23 Rayno Benjamin.
Sharks – 15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Tera Mtembu (c), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Daniel du Preez, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Garth April.
Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images
