In their final pool match of the 2022/23 Vodacom United Rugby season, the Cell C Sharks and Munster played out to a 22-all draw in quite the most intense of games witnessed at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday evening.
In a combative and hugely competitive, confrontational clash, Munster brought a side with a different mindset to the one that conceded 50 points three weeks ago on this self-same pitch, but it was the Cell C Sharks who simply had too much energy and power, exerting the necessary pressure to limit their Irish visitors’ every effort.
It was a fond, but very sad farewell for two fan favourites, Thomas du Toit who has spent the last 10 years at the Cell C Sharks, while no less of a beloved member of the team, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who played their final games at Hollywoodbets before embarking on adventures new.
Kolisi was involved twice in the movement that set his team up perfectly to strike early, a dominant scrum in Munster’s 22 and then a penalty, lineout and powerful driving maul with Bongi Mbonambi breaking and smashing through three defenders to score the opening try.
Sadly Kolisi took a knock that saw him leave the field and to rapturous applause from the appreciative crowd he closed out his last appearance at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Munster finally managed to open their account with a penalty after 15 minutes, having failed in their efforts to score a try with good continuity on attack, but repelled by brave and committed defence from the Cell C Sharks.
The Cell C Sharks went over for their second try on the half hour mark, Munster having lost a man to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle and from the ensuing penalty to touch, the ball was recycled from the lineout maul and Werner Kok had the pace and power to drive through the defence and score. Bosch converted and his team were in a handy 12-3 lead.
Sadly Bosch’s heroics in the air finally cost him as he fielded a high ball and took a knock, necessitating his departure, with a welcome return to action for Aphelele Fassi and a rejig of the backline, Boeta Chamberlain shifting to flyhalf.
Try number three came off another dominant scrum, the penalty sent to touch and from the lineout maul, Mbonambi was again dominant, but held up short. Sikhumbuzo Notshe roared in, picked up the ball and dived over, with Chamberlain adding the extras just before the stroke of half-time, the Cell C Sharks leading 19-3 at the break and full value for their 16 point lead.
Chamberlain struck a 40m penalty when Munster suffered another scrum loss early in the second half to push the lead to 19 points but were awarded a penalty try just short of the half hour remaining mark to cut the lead to 22-10.
Munster somehow managed to craft a somewhat fortuitous try against the run of play, the conversion striking the upright and the lead now just seven points with 25 minutes left to play.
Munster’s confidence was at its highest point in the game and sensing a major upset, mauled over for their third try, the conversion levelling matters at 22 points apiece with 15 minutes remaining.
Both sides threw everything into a final score that would give them the win, and Munster came close in the final play of the game, but were held up thanks to the brave defence, with the spoils shared.
This was a match of epic, test-match proportions, with all the intensity of a final, a fitting end to the pool stages of this year’s URC tournament and a wonderful advert for the game.
The post Spoils Shared appeared first on The Sharks.
The Cell C Sharks were simply outstanding with a defensive effort that held out a late charge from Toyota Free State in their Currie Cup clash to run out 24-17 victors in Bloemfontein on Friday afternoon.
It was a game in which the Cell C Sharks led from start to finish, but they had to contend with a home team that never gave up. Nor did the Cell C Sharks in what was an entertaining and high-paced match.
An indisciplined first half cost the hosts dearly, the nine penalties to one they conceded allowed the Cell C Sharks to build and exert pressure and their 17-nil lead at half-time was punishment against Free State’s enthusiasm, but lack of composure, something that has been a hallmark of their play this season.
The Cell C Sharks opened the scoring with an excellent break from captain James Venter who wasn’t held in the tackle in the midfield, he made plenty of metres before offloading to Fez Mbatha who added more yardage before sending Tinotenda Mavesere into space and there was no stopping the big man and Lionel Cronje had no trouble converting.
Cronje punished Free State’s poor discipline in front of their poles to extend the lead to 10 points on the half hour and just shy of the half-time whistle, a strong maul sent Mbatha over for the second try, and the humiliation of a yellow card for the home side. Cronje made no mistake and the Cell C Sharks were full value for their 17-nil led at the break.
Despite having lost their eighthman to the sin-bin, Free State struck first in the second half, a quick lineout move that caught the defence out and they were on the scoreboard.
Corne Rahl struck back within a minute, Free State unable to secure the kick-off and the tall lock eluded the defensive efforts of three players to score. However, the TMO ruled there was a knock-on in the contest and the try was over-ruled.
The Cell C Sharks lost a player to a yellow card, also defending the line as Free State struck again with their second try, the conversion good and the lead cut to five points with the final quarter left to play.
Marco de Witt scored his first try in his senior career, a strong run and enough composure not to panic as he headed for the corner and had the legs, strength and stretch to make good at a crucial juncture in the game when Free State were starting to get their attacking game together. Cronje converted and with a little over 10 minutes of play remaining, the Cell C Sharks had a 12 point lead, ahead 24-12.
Free State struck gold with a maul try a few minutes later as the game continued to hang in the balance since they had scored their first try earlier in the half, but the conversion was rushed and the lead was now seven points in the Cell C Sharks’ favour.
Free State continued to hammer away, but the defensive structure remained in place and big heart was shown at every tackle and contact point. The Cell C Sharks managed to survive a nervy final 10 minutes, but the belief they showed, and which they will take out of this game, is immense.
Yaw Penxe was the Standout Player of the Match for his incredible work-rate, but the hard work of the entire side on defence cannot be underplayed.
The post Brave Defence Wins Games appeared first on The Sharks.
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: Northern Natal – This is a huge area, but with the exception of a few major towns, like Ladysmith, Colenso, Dundee, Glencoe, Newcastle and Vryheid, this region contributes little to the industrial and commercial wealth of KwaZulu-Natal. It does, however house several major game-parks and tourist attractions. Steeped in history and the scene of some of the worst battles in South African history, between the Boers and the British and also the Zulus, this area has many museums and sites to visit.
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