Match Report: Brave Sharks Stand Up
12/09/2024 03:25 AM
The Hollywoodbets Sharks opened their account in this season's Investec Champions Cup with a solid 39-21 bonus point victory over Exeter Chiefs at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday.
It was a highly-charged game and the referee stood strong, issuing five yellow cards, three to the home side in a period when the game hung in the balance and the result not quite secure.
The early stages of the game were characterised by intense play from both sides, neither scoring but both coming close. The Hollywoodbets Sharks probably had the lion's share of possession but not the territory to make it count.
Despite being a man down for a head-on-head tackle, it was Exeter who scored first, a series of pick-and-goes culminating in the opening try of the game in the 14th minute, the conversion taking the visitors into a seven-nil lead.
It didn't take long for the Hollywoodbets Sharks to level matters, Phepsi Buthelezi making a wonderful 40m solo effort after a break from Makazole Mapimpi in his own 22, with Jordan Hendrikse converting.
Not two minutes later, Mapimpi took the final pass after great interplay from Aphelele Fassi and Grant Williams and the Bok wing went over in the corner for a 12-7 lead in the 25th minute.
Another two minutes of play and another try! This time Williams finishing off after Buthelezi had carried explosively and then offloaded to Ethan Hooker who made all the distance before releasing his scrumhalf into space. Hendrikse made no mistake from right in front and Exeter were learning all about Fortress Hollywoodbets Kings Park, trailing 19-7 within the opening half hour's play.
Exeter would face the final 10 minutes reduced to 14 men once again, this time for a professional foul on the 5m line. While they initially thwarted the danger posed, within five minutes, Siya Kolisi went over for the bonus point try, the visitors' defence unable to stem the speed and physicality brought by the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
As half-time beckoned, the home side led 26-7 following a devasting 10-minute period of total dominance.
Exeter scored a fortuitous try on the stroke of half-time to reduce the deficit to 26-14 at the break.
Game management in the second half would be important and taking opportunities when they presented themselves would be important, given that the bonus point had been scored in the first half. To that end a penalty was sent through the posts in the fifth minute to extend the lead to 15 points.
10 minutes later, the Hollywoodbets Sharks pounced on an Exeter lineout fumble and Hendrikse cleverly read the bounce to steal possession before offloading to a supporting Kolisi who went over for his second and the team's fifth try, with Hendrikse adding the extra two for a 36-14 lead and surely the result?
With a quarter hour remaining, the Hollywoodbets Sharks were in trouble, losing both locks in quick succession to yellow cards after team warnings for penalties conceded and the Chiefs capitalised immediately, scoring a converted try to cut the lead back to 15 points.
Jordan Hendrikse struck a three-pointer after his brother Jaden had earned the penalty for good work at the tackle to push his team into a 39-21 lead, a vital score during a precarious time in the game.
A precarious situation became dangerous after a third yellow was issued, this time for knocking the ball forward and preventing a possible Exeter try. They hammered away at the tryline and then sent a cross-kick into space, only to lose the ball forward and remain 18 points behind with time running out.
The Chiefs would have been severely disappointed that they couldn't make their numerical advantage count, but they were up against a brave defensive effort that simply never went away.
Man of the Match Siya Kolisi said afterwards, "It was a tough game, credit to Exeter with the way they started. They're one of the most physical sides in England, but we kept our composure and we were able to pull it off.
"Thanks to the people of KZN for showing up and supporting us. We felt your energy."
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