Match report: Into the Final

09/16/2024 03:41 AM

The Hollywoodbets Sharks will contest next weekend's Carling Currie Cup Final after an extra-time 40-all draw with the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus on Saturday evening.

It was high drama as the Durban side scored six tries to four in quite the most fitting knock-out match, the intensity from both sides typifying what the occasion meant to everyone. It was a brave effort from a Hollywoodbets Sharks team has found ways to win and this game was all about how they stuck to the task for 100 minutes.

The home side struck first blood with a penalty in the fifth minute but the Hollywoodbets Sharks hit back directly after the kick-off, the clearance from the take too slow and Emile van Heerden managed to get his hands to the kick, chased and dotted down before the ball dribbled over the dead ball line, with Siya Masuku converting from wide out for a 7-3 lead.

Both teams looked to play enterprising rugby and it was the Bulls who were next to score, a well-worked set-piece move that resulted in a try, converted for the lead.

Another well-worked move five minutes later, this time from the Hollywoodbets Sharks, with Ethan Hooker cutting inside from the lineout take and feed, but the ball had been lost forward in the maul set and there was no change to the scoreline.

The Bulls had a midfield break that came close to another score but for a knock-on, before earning a scrum penalty in the 20th minute to extend their lead to 13-7.

Two minutes later the Bulls went over for their second try, this time a short throw-in at the lineout on the halfway line and then a sprint for the corner, the conversion taking them into a 20-7 lead.

Bradley Davids was next on the scoreboard, two penalties conceded afforded the Hollywoodbets Sharks the opportunity to get upfield and into a good scoring position, a few hard runners at the defence before the scrumhalf darted over as the lead was cut to eight points just shy of the half hour mark.

A minute later an absolute moment of brilliance from James Venter, the powerfully built flank breaking out of the defence, showing a nifty turn of speed and a lovely side-step to cut the lead, with Masuku converting with the score much closer at 20-19 with seven minutes of the action-packed first half remaining.

With time almost up, the Bulls were awarded a penalty attacking inside the Hollywoodbets Sharks 22, this time opting for the three points to close out the half leading 23-19 but trailing the try count three to the Hollywoodbets Sharks' two.

The Bulls extended their lead with their third try inside the first five minutes of the second half, the visiting Durban side seeing precious little of the ball after the half-time break, now 30-19 ahead.

But they lost a player to a yellow card for a shoulder to the head tackle and in the ensuing attack, Hanro Jacobs was held up over the tryline as the Bulls salvaged some relief.

There was another close opportunity before Ethan Hooker showed why he so highly rated, even on the wing proving powerful and fast enough to elude the defence for the fourth try, Masuku making it a four point game with 25 minutes remaining.

Less than five minutes later, patience on attack and some focused determination led to try number five as Andre Esterhuizen wasn't going to be stopped out wide and the Hollywoodbets Sharks held a 33-30 lead after Masuku's conversion.

A red card for a head-on-head tackle saw the Hollywoodbets Sharks reduced to 14 men for the remainder of the game, just as the match was poised on a knife's edge, and then matters went from bad to worse as the Hollywoodbets Sharks lost a man to the sin bin for repeated scrum infringements and with just over 10 minutes remaining, the visitors faced an uphill road.

With six minutes remaining, the Hollywoodbets Sharks were reduced to 12 men, another yellow card threatening their march to the final against the Fidelity ADT Lions next Saturday.

With two minutes remaining, the Bulls finally made their numbers advantage count with a penalty that levelled matters at 33-all. A last gasp effort to win the game came the Bulls way off a scrum penalty, but the long range shot drifted wide, opening the door to extra time.

With the Hollywoodbets Sharks eventually restored to their full complement, the first phase of extra time was always going to be tight and it took nine minutes and 55 seconds before the Bulls broke the deadlock with a converted try to close out the first half for a 40-33 lead.

But there was still time for more drama as the second period ended off in a similar vein, this time Trevor Nyakane dummying and carrying over the tryline in the last minute of the game.

To a chorus of boos from the Loftus crowd, Lionel Cronje equalised and the Hollywoodbets Sharks had their sixth try and a 40-all draw, opening the way for a shot at the final. But a yellow card conceded at the kick-off with 30 seconds remaining offered the greatest drama of all.

The touchline penalty was the Bulls only redemption into the final, but it was the Hollywoodbets Sharks who prevailed when the conversion attempt went short and wide.

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