The Cell C Sharks fought to the bitter end but were eventually undone 26-20 against the Airlink Pumas at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in their Currie Cup semi-final on Saturday evening.
The game was tight from start to finish, the kickers searching for errors and the forwards gigantic from both sides in a pressure match that meant much to both teams.
The game couldn’t have started on a more unfortunate note, the Pumas opening the scoring in the first minute after pressure at the kick-off saw them regain possession and after a few phases, scoring the first try of the game, the conversion pushing them into a seven-nil lead.
The visitors extended their lead just short of the quarter hour mark with an effective maul drive try, going 12-0 ahead before Lionel Cronje converted a penalty to cut the lead after the Pumas had infringed on defence in their 22.
Although it had been a slow start from the Cell C Sharks, they started to find their rhythm and a series of dominant scrums and subsequent penalties started to grow belief and shift the momentum in their way.
Working their way out of their 22, the pressure on the visitors took its toll and after a sustained build-up, Corne Rahl finished off the movement, Cronje converted and at 12-10 with 10 minutes of the half remaining, it was game on.
But an intercept try from the Pumas as the Cell C Sharks stole possession and tried to run the ball out of their 22 cancelled the try out, the visitors leading 19-10. The see-saw nature of the game continued, but once again it was a dominant scrum that set up the next try, powering through the Pumas forwards to set up the penalty lineout drive, with Fez Mbatha the man in possession and with Cronje converting, there were just two points in it as half-time beckoned.
At 19 points to 17 at the break, the Pumas had been reeled in and there was a sense of belief in the Cell C Sharks that needed to continue in the second half.
With their tails up, the Cell C Sharks started to imprint their presence on the game and a dangerous tackle, yellow card and penalty delivered the three points inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half to go ahead 20-19.
With 25 minutes remaining, the Pumas had a maul try cleared by the TMO to retake the lead, the touchline conversion taking them 26-20 ahead.
What ensured was a period of Cell C Sharks dominance as they hammered away at the visitors, intent on retaking the lead, one within sight and grasp. But last year’s finalists were leaving nothing on the field, their heroics on defence testament to their absolute belief that this was a game they could win.
As the game headed for the final whistle, the Cell C Sharks took the ball through umpteen phases, hammering away at the Pumas’ defence. To their credit and with a place in the final, the visitors defended for their lives and ultimately managed to hold out against the odds to hang on to their lead.
Next week’s Currie Cup Final will be hosted in Bloemfontein after Toyota Free State defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls 39-10 in the earlier semi-final.
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Have you tried: Travelling to South Africa?
Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: The Story of Huberta – Huberta was a hippopotamus and one of the most famous animals in South African history. In November 1928, Huberta left her waterhole in the St. Lucia Estuary, in Zululand and set off on the 1600km journey to the Eastern Cape, a journey which would take her three years. In that time Huberta became a minor celebrity in South Africa and attracted crowds wherever she went. She was initially thought to be a male and was nicknamed Hubert by the press. She stopped for a while at the mouth of the Mhlanga River in Natal and a failed attempt was made to capture her and put her in Johannesburg Zoo. After this, she headed south to Durban, where she visited a beach and a country club. Moving on to the Umgeni River, she became revered by Zulus and Xhosas alike. Finally she arrived in East London in March 1931. Despite her having been declared Royal Game (and thus protected) by the Natal Provincial Council, she was shot by hunters a month later. After a public outcry, the hunters were arrested and fined £25. Huberta’s body was recovered and sent to a taxidermist in London. Upon her return to South Africa in 1932, she was greeted by 20,000 people and can now be seen in the Amathole Museum, in King William’s Town.
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