Sharks teach Griquas a Half Lesson
The Sharks kept their playoff hopes alive when a bonus point win saw them move to within two points of fourth placed Free State Cheetahs on the log.
The two teams are set to battle it out next week in Bloemfontein in the last round of league matches this season.
The Sharks had secured their bonus point try before halftime as they consigned the Griquas to their eighth loss from nine matches this season.
The Griquas made a fast start to the contest with left wing Ruhan Nel crashing over for a converted try after an intercept deep in his own half – in just the fifth minute, after the Sharks had turned down two kickable penalties.
The Sharks finally opened their account in the 18th minute, thanks to a penalty from flyhalf Joe Pietersen.
The visitors took the lead two minutes later when scrumhalf Cobus Reinach sniped over for a try under the posts and Pietersen kicked the conversion successfully.
The visitors were building up a head of steam and outside centre Paul Jordaan nabbed his team’s second try just three minutes later and the Sharks raced to a 17-7 lead.
The hosts narrowed the gap to seven points thanks to a penalty from inside centre Clinton Swart, but the Sharks restored their scoreboard dominance when flank Francois Kleinhans rumbled over for a converted try in the 33rd minute.
The visitors then wrapped up their bonus point try with four minutes left in the half when inside centre Andre Esterhuizen powered his way over for a converted try.
Griquas improved their defensive patterns at the start of the second half and they held the Sharks out until the 54th minute, when replacement scrumhalf Michael Claassens went over for a converted try.
The Sharks continued to assert their dominance and left wing Sibusiso Sithole added his name to the try-scorer’s list.
Griquas finally managed to breach the visitor’s defence in the second half when they grabbed two late tries through replacement back Sandile Ngcobo and Nel.
The scorers:
For the Griquas:
Tries: Nel 2, Ngcobo
Cons: Swart
Pen: Swart
For the Sharks:
Tries: Reinach, Jordaan, Kleinhans, Esterhuizen, Claasens, Sithole
Cons: Pietersen 6
Pens: Pietersen
The Teams:
Griquas: 15 Ntabeni Dukisa, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Michael van der Spuy, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Ruhan Nel, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Jono Janse van Rensburg, 6 RJ Liebenberg, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Jonathan Adendorf, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Abraham le Roux, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Leon Karemaker, 19 Wendal Wehr, 20 Dylon Frylinck, 21 Gouws Prinsloo, 22 Sandile Ngcobo.
Sharks: 15 Odwa Ndungane, 14 Wandile Mjekevu, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Sibusiso Sithole, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Marco Wentzel (captain), 4 Dave McDuling, 3 Gerhard Engelbrecht, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Christiaan de Bruin, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Heimar Williams, 22 Garth April.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Pieter Janse van Vuuren
Source: @SaRugby
