Leading from start to finish, the Cell C Sharks defeated Zebre 38-6 in a comprehensive Vodacom United Rugby Championship victory at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday evening.
The Cell C Sharks went into this match off the back of a three match winning streak and unbeaten at home in 2022, while Zebre arrived winless in the competition. To their credit, Zebre gave it their all and never made it easy for the Durbanites who were made to work hard for the victory.
But relentless pressure kept the Italians on the back foot throughout, finally wearing them down and then running away with the victory, scoring four tries in the second half to disappoint their visitors.
The Cell C Sharks struck first in the opening 10 minutes, thanks to an opportune 50-22 opportunity from Aphelele Fassi that set the forwards up to maul from the lineout 10m out with Henco Venter driving over for the try after sustained pressure and Curwin Bosch adding the two from out wide.
The first scrum of the game came not long afterwards and the power game from the Cell C Sharks dominant pack of forwards continued to earn rewards as they wrestled a penalty right away.
After repelling numerous sorties into their 22, Zebre conceded the first penalty that was sent to the posts with Bosch sending his team into a 10-nil lead after 25 minutes, the Cell C Sharks having dominated possession and territory but finding the passionate defence from the visiting Italians, no doubt buoyed by their national team’s earlier Six Nations victory over Wales.
Zebre finally managed to turn possession into points when they converted their first penalty in the 30th minute to get the scoreboard ticking over for their account.
The visitors’ confidence grew as the half developed and managed to build some momentum as they worked their way into a scoring position and in the last play of the game were awarded a penalty for a breakdown infringement which was sent through the uprights to cut the half-time deficit to 10-6.
Three minutes into the second half, with Zebre barely having a sniff of possession, the Cell C Sharks made good with a concerted forward effort after Grant Williams’ quick tap penalty on the halfway line took possession to the 22 and from there, the relentless pressure was finally closed out by hooker Bongi Mbonambi managing to drive over, with Bosch adding the two.
With just over 25 minutes left, the Zebre team lost a man to the sin bin for multiple infringements after having been warned about their indiscipline and there was just too much pressure from the Cell C Sharks chasing the bonus point with Khutha Mchunu mauling the ball over the line for the third try, Bosch adding the conversion for an unassailable 24-6 lead.
Two minutes later the bonus point try came following some excellent attacking work initially from the forwards before the backline got involved and Grant Williams was fed the inside pass to score under the posts, the 25 point lead showing the team’s dominance.
Try number five came with 10 minutes remaining when Zebre were once more reduced to 14 men for repeated penalties defending their line, Bosch being fed a long ball after the forwards had hammered away and broken the back of the defence. The Cell C Sharks flyhalf converted to take his team into a 38-6 lead.
Vodacom Man of the Match Henco Venter who had a storming game, leading many of the individual statistics, said afterwards that in a game of two halves, it was all about applying the pressure, wearing them down and then securing the victory.
“We knew against a team like Zebre they wouldn’t go away, but to keep pounding away at them and that’s what we did.”
The post Winning Momentum appeared first on The Sharks.
Vodacom Bulls vs Cell C Sharks Match Preview:
The Cell C Sharks are in Pretoria for their round five Carling Currie Cup clash when they take on the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this evening in what should be a physically confrontational derby.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls have loaded their side with players who featured in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship over weekend, indicating the great importance they have placed on the outcome of this game.
For Cell C Sharks head coach Etienne Fynn, this is a positive sign of how highly their opposition rate them.
“The Bulls have clearly gone out and picked the strongest available team; they’re targeting this game. That’s what it’s all about – competing – and our players would want to measure themselves against the best the Bulls have to offer. Yes, they have some great players, but so do we.”
His expectations of what the hosts will bring to the game are clear.
“The Bulls are the Bulls, at Loftus, and we don’t expect them to stray from their DNA,” he explains. “They have evolved their game though, that’s clear, and in terms of preparation, we have been as complete as we can. Ultimately it’s about going there and performing against them on their home field.
“For our youngsters, this is an opportunity to stand up and be counted against some experienced players. You have to bring it, whether you’ve played 100 senior games or a young player in your second or third game. You bring it and you get counted.”
Winning four games in a row and maintaining an unbeaten record means his squad is doing something right and tonight’s match offers further opportunity to entrench their style on the competition.
“Any team has a core identity, this team has definitely grown one, and we have some really talented players. They’re all mentally prepared and everyone is really looking forward to this game which is all you expect as a coach. You want your team to arrive there in the right mental space and perform. If they’ve given maximum effort and energy, that’s all you ask for.”
Of the fact that they haven’t lost, Fynn points out that this is not a record they are focusing on.
“If you don’t take it game by game, you are going to slip on a banana peel somewhere. Our focus right now is on performing and growth comes with that.
“We aren’t focused on the fact that we haven’t lost, we haven’t spoken about that once. “For us, it’s all about performing.”
The post Vodacom Bulls vs Cell C Sharks Match Preview appeared first on The Sharks.
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: Pinetown – These days, Pinetown, Westville and even Hillcrest are seen as part of the greater Durban municipal area and regarded almost as suburbs. We have included Queensburgh, Northdene, Kloof, Winston Park, New Germany, Hillcrest, Waterfall and Bothas Hill in the greater Pinetown reion. In the 50s and 60s Pinetown was founded as an industrial and residential alternative to Durban itself and housed a large Power Station, which produced electricity for the Durban industries…
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