The Cell C Sharks smashed the Kings 53-0 in their return leg Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Growthpoint KINGS PARK on a near-perfect Durban evening in an emphatic show of force.
Despite the gruelling travel schedule the Cell C Sharks have had to endure over the course of the past fortnight, there was still one more challenge to endure before their bye and the monthly long break for the June internationals.
And boy were they up for it as they ran in eight fantastic tries as they blew away the visitors in a real show of force.
A massive hit on the receiver by JP Pietersen from the first kick-off as he smashed into the player, set the tone for the match. The physicality was intense as both sides hammered away at each other, with the home side electing to play entertaining, attacking rugby by kicking goalable penalties to touch rather than go for the points.
A great attack that started well inside their own half saw the backs keeping the ball alive before Pat Lambie was fed the final pass that allowed him to score the opening try of the game, inside 10 minutes of play.
The touchline conversion attempt was held up in the wind, but Lambie made no mistake with a penalty minutes later and was the architect of his team’s second try when, under huge pressure defending their line, a loose ball was snapped up by the Cell C Sharks flyhalf who raced 30m upfield and then fed Paul Jordaan who turned on the afterburners and raced away for the valuable points. Lambie converted and with 20 minutes of play behind them, the home side led 15-0.
The Kings’ woes continued as the kick-off went directly into touch and from the resulting scrum on the halfway line, Paul Jordaan was fed a long pass out wide, drew his man and sent Willie le Roux in for the third try. Lambie’s conversion out wide took the Cell C Sharks into a strong 22 point lead and a firm hold on the game.
There was further agony as the Kings conceded a third try in as many minutes as Paul Jordaan streaked down the touchline for his second try, and team’s fourth.
While the Kings looked determined and enterprising on attack, they battled with ball retention, unable to string enough phases together to realistically threaten the Cell C Sharks’ defence. Director of Rugby Gary Gold had spoken during the week about the need to play balanced rugby – between effective defence and exciting attack – and with the position his team had worked themselves into, he would have been a very happy man.
The fifth try came just after the half hour mark, Willie le Roux putting in the perfect pass to Andre Esterhuizen and the powerful centre was full of running before scoring a good try.
36 points scored in 34 minutes suggested the hosts were doing everything right, their demoralised visitors unable to counter what was fast becoming a catastrophe for them as there was clearly just one dominant team in this one-sided contest.
And they weren’t finished yet as JP Pietersen crashed over for the sixth try after a good team effort that started with a dominant scrum, was followed by another successful lineout and from the ensuing possession, there was no stopping a Cell C Sharks team high on confidence.
At 43-nil up at half-time, the game was effectively over for a Kings side that was battling on all fronts, but the big question was whether the home side could sustain the high energy approach following all their recent travel and the understandably draining effects of intercontinental travel.
The second half didn’t quite continue in the same high-scoring fashion, and for the Kings enjoying rare possession, like the first half, they were unable to make it count. They turned the ball over in the Cell C Sharks 22, the ball was spun wide and JP Pietersen chipped the ball ahead. The bounce eluded him but not Lambie who received it inside his own half and then sprinted to the corner for the seventh try, maintaining their point-a-minute ways; 48 in 48 minutes.
But the rhythm had been broken and neither side was able to trouble the scorers until the final five minutes of the game when Thomas du Toit crashed over from close quarters to bring up the half century of points.
It has to be said that this was a match where the Cell C Sharks brought real balance to their game, playing scintillating rugby with ball on hand, and when needed, and as they have all season ,stepped up to the plate on defence.
They have earned their break!
The post Try fest appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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