Match report: Marching to the Final:
The Hollywoodbets Sharks staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Clermont 32-31 in their EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday afternoon to set up a place in the final.
The game was played at a ferocious pace, high-tempo stuff from both sides, befitting a game of this stature to deliver a spectacular clash of epic proportions.
In a match where the lead continued to change hands throughout the pulsating 80 minutes, it was edge-of-your-seat throughout, particularly late in the game when the Hollywoodbets Sharks fought back from a deficit to emerge narrow victors.
Siya Masuku was bang on target with the boot when he opened the scoring in the opening five minutes after Clermont were penalised for off-sides on defence, but the French side struck back immediately, finding and creating space out wide to score in the corner, with the touchline conversion taking them into a 7-3 lead.
Masuku cut the deficit to one point when he converted a second penalty, this after Aphelele Fassi was illegally cut down off the ball and then pushed the Hollywoodbets Sharks into the lead with a third penalty, extending his 100% successful kicking rate to the end of the first quarter hour.
Clermont restored the two point lead with a penalty at the breakdown, but once again lacked discipline on defence when the Hollywoodbets Sharks built continuity on attack and they conceded the lead again when Masuku kicked his team into a 12-10 lead.
The see-sawing nature of the high tempo game continued with Clermont keeping the ball alive with a well-crafted effort that resulted in their second try, although the conversion went wide as the game hit the second quarter.
Masuku levelled scores in the 25th minute, Clermont once again ill-disciplined on defence and the Hollywoodbets Sharks flyhalf was once again on target.
After conceding their eighth penalty – to the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ one – Clermont were punished again, Masuku striking his sixth penalty to once again take the lead.
But momentum swung back into French hands on the half hour, a third try after a ball rip in the tackle to turn defence into attack and they went all the way for a converted try and a 22-18 lead.
A rare penalty allowed Clermont to go seven points ahead three minutes from half-time, and a final penalty of the half gave them a 28-18 lead going into the break.\
Clermont struck immediately after the kick-off, a penalty conceded at the receipt and they extended their lead to 13 points.
A spectacular scrum demolition from the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ forwards set the tone for a fightback and it delivered a sense of belief in their ability to turn matters around.
A sustained attack that was cut short by a yellow card inducing penalty led to a series of pick and go drives ever closer to the tryline before Vincent Koch closed out a brave effort from the forwards to score after 15 phases with Masuku converting to cut the lead to just six points with the final quarter left to play.
But a yellow card to Aphelele Fassi on defence turned pressure back on the Hollywoodbets Sharks, although fortune favoured the Durban side when the penalty was sent wide.
Clermont had a numbers advantage when their sin binned player returned but a frenetic passage of play started when Eben Etzebeth chased a high kick, took possession under pressure and the ball was recycled wide for Makazole Mapimpi to score in the corner.
Siya Masuku stepped up to the plate and delivered a potential match-winning conversion from the touchline as the Hollywoodbets Sharks took a 32-31 lead with eight minutes remaining.
It was a tense finale in the closing minutes but it was all about bravery and there was no shortage from the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: Famous sports events – Comrades Marathon – An annual marathon run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Midmar Mile – A mile long swimming race held annually at Midmar Dam. Dusi Canoe Marathon – An annual canoe marathon, starting in Pietermaritzburg and ending in Durban. Durban July Handicap – South Africa’s premier annual horse racing event at Greyville Racecourse in Durban. Gunston 500 – a premier international surfing event hosted in Durban.
