The Cell C Sharks lost 31-20 to Western Province in our final pool match of the Currie Cup at Growthpoint KINGS PARK in a game where the result was of no importance, except for the visitors.
Western Province secured second spot on the log with the win, while our unassailable position at the top of the log meant we were always going to have a home semi-final next week, regardless of the result.
This was a match that called for determination and spirit and from the start, both sides demonstrated a desperate desire to play good, attacking rugby. But a bye after the penultimate round put paid to any hopes of continuity as we failed to build on the momentum built in the pervious 10 rounds.
As early as the fourth minute, it all fell into place. At the first scrum, the Cell C Sharks monstered Western Province, earned a penalty which was kicked to touch instead of to poles. The lineout went according to plan and the ensuing action saw Marius Louw taking the ball at pace and forcing his way over. The successful penalty from Curwin Bosch gave us the perfect start.
Bosch added a penalty to stretch the lead to ten points after Thomas du Toit, instrumental in the earlier scrum penalty, showed his prowess at the breakdown, fighting for the ball and earning the 45m penalty.
The coach’s son and namesake, Robert du Preez, the Western Province flyhalf, kicked a penalty near the quarter hour mark to get the visitors on the scoreboard. It would be their only score of the half, despite numerous attempts to add to it.
Both sides spent the next 25 minutes alternatively attacking and defending, with the visitors probably enjoying more opportunities but unable to convert some close-quarter efforts, including shots at goal and numerous lineouts in our 22.
The last laugh went the way of the Cell C Sharks, Curwin Bosch receiving the ball on his 22 and as the half-time hooter sounded, he sent a long range drop-goal through the posts. It required confirmation from the TMO before the three points were awarded for a well-deserved 13-3 lead at the break.
It took nearly 15 minutes into the second half before any points were scored in a disjointed period of play, with Robert du Preez scoring under the posts from an attacking scrum, converting to pull his team to within three points with 25 minutes of the match remaining.
Five minutes later, du Preez was on hand to score his second try, the conversion taking Province into a 17-13 lead, ahead for the first time in the match.
A third then fourth try, minutes apart with eight minutes of the game remaining, sealed the result giving the visitors an 18 point lead and 28 unanswered points in a difficult, disjointed second half.
With time up, Kobus van Wyk scored in the corner following a protracted period of attack, but ultimately the three try blitz earlier had sealed our fate.
It wasn’t quite the result we wanted, but ultimately we didn’t need a win and next week offers the opportunity to show why we enjoyed log leading status for most of the competition.
The post The Cell C Sharks go down appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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