Match Report: Five Pointer Secured:
The Hollywoodbets Sharks outclassed Munster Rugby with an emphatic and well-deserved 41-24 Vodacom United Rugby Championship victory at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in overcast but perfect conditions on Saturday afternoon.
Dominant from start to finish, the win takes them into the top half of the table with a game in hand while Munster leave South Africa after losing both their tour matches.
It was a dream start for the Hollywoodbets Sharks, 43 seconds into the game and Aphelele Fassi had streaked over the tryline after a wonderful break from eventual Vodacom Player of the Match Grant Williams in the midfield. Jordan Hendrikse was on target with the conversion and the home side held a seven-nil lead before anyone had time to even register that the game had started.
Try number two came four minutes later, this time Makazole Mapimpi too strong and too quick for the defence out wide as he powered his way over following a sweeping movement that had the ball spread from one side of the field to the other. Hendrikse’s was bang on target from out wide for a 14-0 lead.
Such was the high quality of play that the first scrum took place in only the 14th minute, and what a powerhouse effort from the Hollywoodbets Sharks as they earned a penalty for their devastating efforts which Hendrikse sent through the uprights for a 17-point lead inside the opening quarter hour.
Munster finally got on the board, taking advantage of a ball left unprotected at the tackle point and although Williams was brave to chase down the big flank and get the tackle in, the Munster forward was close enough to roll over and touch down, cutting the lead to 12 points at the conclusion of the first quarter.
Less than five minutes of this enthralling game came the try that cancelled out Munster’s previous effort, Grant Williams closing out a Makazole Mapimpi inspired effort with Aphelele Fassi instrumental with his break, chip and gather and then offload to his pacey scrumhalf to score under the posts and hand Hendrikse the easiest of conversions for a 24-5 lead with a full 15 minutes of the half remaining.
Munster doubled their tally on the half hour with a well-crafted try that came from numerous phases of attack that eventually found the space out wide. The conversion was again wide but the lead was now cut to 14 points.
With three minutes remaining, Munster conceded a penalty in front of the posts, with the scrum option chosen. Given the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ dominance at the set-piece, it was the correct decision, with Munster being driven backwards and Grant Williams feeding a marauding Andre Esterhuizen and there was no way of stopping him as he went over for the bonus point try, with Hendrikse converting for a 31-10 lead.
There were a few anxious moments to negotiate in defence against Munster’s efforts to cut the half-time deficit, but the Irish could not make their territory and possession in the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ half count.
Munster dominated the opening minutes of the second half, camped on the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ tryline but being knocked back time and again in defence until their attack was eventually thwarted.
Then it was Vincent Tshituka whose 30m run up-field and then a lovely phase of interplay before Munster conceded the penalty that Hendrikse converted for a 34-10 lead with half an hour remaining.
The next quarter hour was spent with the Hollywoodbets Sharks defending their line manfully and bravely, and two TMO decisions were upheld in the home team’s favour as they kept the Munster side out, despite the relentless pressure from the visitors.
Vincent Tshituka’s immense work rate was rewarded with 15 minutes remaining, making a charge on a clearance and getting the touch that set up his team’s fifth try, the conversion pushing them 41-10 ahead and with that there was no doubting the outcome of this high-class game.
With seven minutes remaining and defence turned into attack, Munster had an intercept in their 22 before scoring their third try, converted this time to cut the scoreline to 41-17.
Although Munster had the last say with a converted try in the final minute of the game, they will leave Durban knowing they were well-beaten.
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