The Cell C Sharks were simply too good for a game, but outplayed, DHL Western Province side as the hosts won an entertaining Carling Currie Cup match 35-20 at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Wednesday evening.
Their second win in two matches saw the Durban side retaining their unbeaten status in the competition and they will feel that it was a most effective performance early in the competition.
The first half was a fairly even contest, with the spoils shared by half-time, but a third quarter, three try blitz from the Cell C Sharks blew the visitors out the water to set up the bonus point victory, while restricting Province to a solitary, late try that had little effect on the outcome.
It was a tight opening period with the kickers trading solitary goals, Tim Swiel getting Province on the scoreboard with a penalty in the 10thminute, with Curwin Bosch getting the Cell C Sharks away with a drop-goal just as the second quarter got going, before a powerful rolling maul off an attacking lineout and then tap and go from the quick-thinking Cameron Wright saw Inny Radebe over in the corner for the opening try of the game, converted by Curwin Bosch from out wide for a Cell C Sharks 10-3 lead just before the half hour mark.
Western Province struck back hard before Yaw Penxe was sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle defending the goal-line, the penalty sent through the posts to close the gap, before the visitors made good with a converted try of their own with five minutes of the half remaining to take a 13-10 lead.
A second yellow card, this time to Swiel, saw Province reduced to 14 men and Bosch immediately capitalising with the equaliser for a 13-all half-time score and the honours shared.
The second half started on a fiery note for the Cell C Sharks who played with intent and a well-placed high ball from Wright saw Penxe snatch the ball out the air to put his team on the front foot, before the forwards got stuck into their opponents with Celimpilo Gumede closing out an impressive team effort to score the second try, converted by Bosch.
The third try came soon afterwards, a well-taken lineout in the danger zone setting up a dominant maul which Province had no answer for, with Fez Mbatha too powerful to stop as he smashed his way over in convincing style.
In quick time, the Cell C Sharks had grown a sizeable lead, with Bosch adding a further three pointer and then Marnus Potgieter scoring the bonus point try with Bosch converting for a 35-13 lead before the end of the third quarter.
Seeing the unveiling of the slipping-away of the game, Province fought back hard, enjoying some continuity on attack, but their execution failed them and with 15 minutes remaining, they were still chasing a second half score.
Persistently smashed back in the tackle, Province simply had no answer to the brutality displayed by the Cell C Sharks. While the attack had delivered the points necessary for the win, it was the pressure exerted on the visitors that proved the difference.
There was some consolation for Province with their first points in the second half, a try scored in the 72nd minute, but with 15 points the difference, the money had to be on the Cell C Sharks to take the honours.
In desperation, Province even launched a final attack from behind their goal-line, but were unable to make it count in any meaningful way and had to settle for a fairly comprehensive loss.
The post Fantastic Victory at Home appeared first on The Sharks.
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