Sharks hang on for fortuitous escape in coastal derby

11/30/2024 12:22 PM

MATCH REPORT: The Springbok-laden Sharks were forced to hang on desperately for a valuable 21-15 United Rugby Championship win over the Stormers in Durban on Saturday.

It was the Sharks' first-ever URC win over the Stormers, but it required an eagled-eyed TMO to spot a knock-on in a move that would have resulted in a match-winning try for the visitors.

Stormers coach John Dobson said before the game his team must be physical and turn the game into a messy scrap.

That they did - it was physical and at times brutal.

The Sharks will take the win, but both teams will also acknowledge that they have a lot of work to do ahead of the start of their respective European - Champions Cup - campaigns next week.

* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!

* The article continues below ...

The Stormers had the more energetic start - a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in-field kick putting Herschel Jantjies into space inside the Sharks' 22-metre area. However, the ball was dislodged in the tackle with the tryline in sight.

The Stormers continued to harass the Sharks, especially at the breakdown. They made a mess of the tackle area and did not allow them the space and time they needed.

They also dominated the set pieces, winning a scrum penalty against the much-vaunted Springbok-laden Sharks pack.

The home team eventually got themselves into the game - a Siya Kolisi turnover, a free kick at the scrum and a penalty at the tackle getting them into the Stormers half,

From a line-out, that became a ruck, Aphelele Fassi delivered a sublime pass that put Ethan Hooker over for the first try. Siya Masuku added the conversion - 7-0 after 12 minutes.

Now the Stormers were leaking penalties, again allowing the Sharks to gain valuable territory.

It did not take long, as the Sharks forwards continued to exert their dominance and captain Siya Kolisi burst over for the second try. The Masuku conversion made it 14-0 after 19 minutes.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu eventually broke the Stormers' duck with a sweetly struck drop-goal in the 24th minute.

That was followed by another scrum penalty to the Stormers and an offside penalty, allowing Feinberg-Mngomezulu to take a shot at goal from 45 metres out. However, he hooker it past the left upright.

A high hit on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu followed another offside penalty, but the TMO found 'no head contact', but the Stormers flyhalf left the field for a Head Injury Assessment from the whiplash.

Fellow Springbok Manie Libbok, on for Feinberg-Mngomezulu, pushed his penalty attempt wide to the right.

With two minutes of the half remaining Ruhan Nel was yellow-carded for tackling an opponent without the ball, the home team took that 11-point (14-3) lead into the half-time break.

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The second half started with a scrum penalty to the Sharks, just after the referee had spoken to both teams about the set piece problems.

In the 45th minute Warrick Gelant, who had made some shocking errors in the first half, produced a sublime grubber that saw Leolin Zas collect and flop over for the visitors/ first try. Libbok hit the upright with his conversion attempt - 8-14.

That was followed by a scrum penalty to the Stormers, who then started to clear the bench.

However, after a few aimless kicks by both teams, Andre Esterhuizen started a counter inside his 22-metre area that ended with Ethan Hooker going over 90 metres downfield. The TMO had a look at a possible obstruction and Vincent Tsituka was then penalised for said obstruction and the try was denied.

Siya Kolisi, at the breakdown. and Andre Esterhuizen, with the finishing, combined to stretch the home team's lead with a third try. Jordan Hendrikse's conversion made it 21-8 on the hour mark.

The Stormers kept on scrapping and came close on a number of occasions, but they were just not clinical enough with the finishing.

It included Manie Libbok kicking a penalty dead, instead of into touch, when they needed a power play for a late charge.

With full-time virtually up, Aphelele Fassi was yellow-carded for cynically slapping the ball away.

The referee also awarded a penalty try - 21-15.

With just enough time for the restart, the Stormers retained the ball through multiple phases, eventually working their way upfield until Manie Libbok rushed over under the upright.

The TMO had one final play, with Libbok having knocked the ball on in the build-up - allowing the Sharks to escape with a fortuitous win - 21-15.

The Stormers at least had the consolation of a losing bonus point.

The scorers

For the Sharks
Tries: Hooker, Siya Kolisi, Esterhuizen
Cons: Masuku 2, J Hendrikse

For the Stormers
Tries: Zas, penalty try
Cons: Penalty try does not require a conversion
DG: Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Yellow card: Ruhan Nel (Stormers, 38 - cynical foul, tackling an opponent without the ball), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks, 79 - cynical foul, slapping the ball away)

Teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Vincent Tsituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Emmanuel Tshituka, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Jordan Hendrikse.

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Manie Libbok.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

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