The Cell C Sharks were too good for the Jaguares as they achieved the double with a hard-fought 33-25 Vodacom Super Rugby victory over the virtual Argentina national side.
Within the context of the Africa 2 Conference, this game held huge significance give the fact that the Cell C Sharks held just a four-point lead over their opponents. Further, the Jaguares had not lost at home prior to this match, with wins against, amongst others, the Lions and Cheetahs.
It was the perfect start as we managed to get the ball back from our kick-off, recycled it through the forwards and backs then the forwards again, virtually every player in the team having a hand in the try, rounded off by captain Philip van der Walt with less than two minutes of play.
It was a statement of intent and the determination and continuity on attack was rewarded in the best possible way. The Jaguares responded with a penalty on the 10-minute mark to reduce the deficit in a game that was proving to be highly entertaining and competitive.
The penalty spurred on the home side who attacked with purpose, but our outstanding defence held firm and forced a turnover on the halfway line. From the resultant scrum, we took attacking possession to their 22 before earning a kickable penalty which Curwin Bosch had no trouble converting.
Sadly, we were reduced to 14 men when Michael Claassens was yellow carded for slowing the ball down and the Jaguares added a second penalty to their tally. However, almost immediately, Bosch cancelled the three points out with a penalty of his own for a lineout infringement.
But no sooner had we pushed ourselves into a seven point lead, the home side took advantage of the extra number on attack for their first try of the game with just under half an hour of play, and with the successful conversion, the scores were tied.
A few minutes later, the Jaguares took the lead for the first time in the game as they attacked from close-quarters off a scrum and added a second try, this one under the posts for the simplest of conversions with five minutes of the first half remaining.
But there was plenty of drama to come as Rhyno Smith took the ball on the halfway line and a spectacular 30m run took possession to the Jaguares 22 and it was left to the forwards to smash it up with Etienne Oosthuizen scoring and Bosch adding the two to level matters once again at 20-all.
Jaguares flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez had the opportunity to put his side into a half-time lead, but his 40m penalty effort struck the upright. It had been an action-packed half with the sides fairly evenly matched and both teams showing their intent to play attacking rugby.
For the first 10 minutes of the second half, neither side could break through some stern defence despite some enterprising play, but finally a gap opened up as Coenie Oosthuizen was put in space and he did enough to set up Thomas du Toit as the front rankers combined perfectly for our third try.
It took another 10 minutes before the next score, Bosch kicking another penalty following a great break from Lwazi Mvovo to take possession deep inside Jaguares territory. Crucially, it took us into a 10 point lead and two scores ahead.
Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived as a kick and chase was well-taken with the try scored in the corner, a conversion too difficult for Juan Martin Hernandez who had a stint with the Cell C Sharks a few years back.
With 15 minutes of the game remaining and five points the difference, the match was set for a thrilling finale. With points difficult to come by, both sides threw everything into securing victory and it was left to the final minute for Bosch to push the Cell C Sharks into an eight-point lead with a final penalty.
Crucially, the Jaguares were denied a losing bonus point to allow the Cell C Sharks to extend their lead to eight points on the log.
The post Powerful Victory appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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