The clash in Kimberley was riddled with penalties, which allowed GWK Griquas and The Sharks to keep the scoreboard ticking throughout the match. The home team had an edge in the first half as The Sharks were pinned regularly for infringing, which allowed flyhalf Francois Brummer to slot over four penalties to add to a try by Marnus Schoeman. The Sharks, meanwhile, managed only two penalties by flyhalf Butch James and a late try in the first half, which left them trailing 17-11 at the break.
But the tables turned in the second half, as the home side were penalised heavily at the breakdowns. This ill-discipline resulted in a yellow card for captain Ryno Barnes in the 74th minute. With penalty kicks by The Sharks having closed the gap on the scoreboard, the Durban side capitalised on having an extra man on the field, as prop Wiehahn Herbst dotted down the ball for their second try and a 25-24 lead, which they managed to hold on to until the final whistle.
Scorers:
- GWK Griquas 24 (17) – Tries: Burger Schoeman, Marnus Schoeman. Conversion: Francois Brummer. Penalties: Brummer (4).
- The Sharks 25 (11) – Tries: Sizo Maseko, Wiehahn Herbst. Penalties: Butch James (3), Fred Zeilinga (2).
Absa Currie Cup Premier Division log:
- Western Province – 20
- Sharks – 19
- FS Cheetahs – 16
- Golden Lions – 15
- Blue Bulls – 10
- Griquas – 9
