Match Report: Pool Stages Close Out on a Disappointing Note
Today at 03:33 AM
The Hollywoodbets Sharks found the going tough in their Investec Champions Cup clash with Bordeaux-Bègles, going down 66-12 on Sunday afternoon.
Despite Bordeaux coming into this game off the back of an eight-match winning streak and leading the French Top 14, the Hollywoodbets Sharks shrugged off their underdog tag, starting the game at breakneck speed.
Playing with focus and intensity, the Durban side capitalised on an early knock-on from the hosts to set up an attacking scrum. A penalty was then kicked to touch, the ball mauled before Francois Venter combined well with his centre partner Jurenzo Julius who then made the final pass to Siya Masuku who managed to take the tackler over the line for the opening try inside five minutes. Masuku converted for a well-deserved 7-0 lead.
The second try came less than five minutes later, Siya Kolisi getting the ball in the midfield and making valuable ground before the ball was kept alive, Julius instrumental in getting his team over the gain-line before a long looping pass out wide to Hakeen Kunene for the fullback to go over in the corner.
But this was a game that started well but all went wrong.
The hosts aren't Top 14 log leaders for nothing and coming off a 69-17 victory over Exeter last week, the highly-confident French quickly struck back, scoring a 12th minute try in the corner. A yellow card to Kunene for a tackle that started low but rose to head-on-head added further dismay for the Durbanites.
Like the Hollywoodbets Sharks earlier, Bordeaux struck a second blow, a break-out from Julius showing just how dangerous he is, but without enough support, the ball came back and took advantage of pressure play to score their second try, together with the successful conversion, tying matters at 12-apiece after 20 minutes.
The second quarter delivered little in the way of points, but no shortage of fireworks as the Hollywoodbets Sharks showed their intent on attack, forcing the hosts into a largely defensive role.
Despite the limited opportunities on attack, Bordeaux had an attacking scrum in the last minute of the half and when the ball left the set-piece, a strong effort saw them over for their third try to take a 19-12 lead into the half-time break.
Bordeaux scored the bonus point try shortly after the start of the second half, creating something out of nothing, turning defence into attack with a cross-kick that caught the visitors out of defensive alignment, taking a 26-12 lead.
With half an hour remaining, Bordeaux's big pack mauled the ball over from an attacking lineout to extend their lead, adding a sixth three minutes later to go 40-12 ahead.
With confidence high, it may have taken a while, but the home side struck again with the last quarter hour remaining, the game having lost shape and structure at this stage.
Heading into the final 10 minutes, the hosts hit the 50 mark with a sustained attack, a cross-kick finding the wing in space and time to score in the corner to rise to a 52-12 lead.
Two tries in the closing minutes made the scoreboard one-sided as the hosts closed out a productive day against disappointment for the visiting Hollywoodbets Sharks.
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