The Cell C Sharks made it six wins in a row with an emphatic 45-15 victory over the Free State Cheetahs in their round two match at Growthpoint KINGS PARK on Saturday afternoon.
An understrength Free State Cheetahs side, missing their Currie Cup regulars to the new Pro 14 competition, faced a similar battle to the Cell C Sharks in the first round when we were still in Super Rugby action.
This time we were simply too good, with the bonus point win sending us to the top of the table.
The visitors might have enjoyed a strong period of continuity on attack in the early minutes of the game, but they were unable to make it count. When we came back, it was our turn to attack and after a few dangerous incursions, we finally came good, attacking off a scrum penalty with Lukhanyo Am bashing through the defence out wide for the opening try inside 10 minutes.
Despite not being at full strength, Free State, came to Durban to play and proved competitive opposition, certainly deserving of every bit of respect due to them. Although it took until the 15th minute of the game before they scored (a penalty), they were clearly going to give us a run for our money.
But we shouldn’t devalue our own strengths and following three penalties conceded in their 22, Free State were under a referee’s warning for repeated infringements and attacking off a scrum, the ball was sent wide with John-Hubert Meyer diving over for our second try, with Inny Radebe converting from out wide.
A few minutes later, Free State’s inexperience started showing as we forced a scrum then ran hard at the defence, with Inny Radebe exploiting a huge defensive lapse to score our third try with more than 10 minutes of the first half remaining. He converted to build up a healthy 19-3 lead.
The bonus point try came within two minutes of half-time, Sbu Nkosi strong on attack down the flank to suck in the defence before offloading to Louis Schreuder to score the fourth try.
At 24-3 up at the break, it had been an entertaining half of attacking rugby, and importantly, converting opportunities against the only side to have defeated us in the first round.
We kept the Cheetahs pinned in their half in the second period before Marius Louw, with his first touch of the ball since coming on to replace Lukhanyo Am, making a brief but effectively mazy run as we attacked off a driving maul for the fifth try. Radebe converted from the touchline to give us a commanding 31-3 lead less than 10 minutes into the second half.
The sixth try came with most of the replacements on to inject some energy into our attack as Free State were tiring and a good attack brought further rewards when Sbu Nkosi scored out wide with Garth April converting for an unassailable 38-3 lead with a quarter of the game remaining.
The visitors finally scored a try, with less than 15 minutes remaining but it was too little too late given the size of the mountain they had to climb and a second try for Nkosi, moments later, thanks to some quick hands in the build-up, cancelled the opposition’s try out as we approached the half century.
The late flurry of tries continued as Free State managed to score their second in what had been a hugely entertaining match, but we had been simply too strong.
The post Sharks Too Good appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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