Sharks clinch SA’s maiden Champions Cup win

Published on

The Sharks survived two sending offs and a late fightback from Harlequins to secure South Africa’s first victory in the Champions Cup in Durban on Saturday.

Leading 22-14 at half time, the Sharks matched the tourists’ five tries in a thrilling maiden encounter between SA and English sides in the European tournament at Kings Park.

Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch kicked 14 points and left wing Makazole Mapimpi scored two tries as the Durbanites entered the final quarter with 13 men, only to emerge 39-31 winners after the final whistle.

ALSO: Lions and Dragons share spoils in thriller

Quins left wing Josh Bassett opened the scoring, and Tommaso Allen made no mistake with the first of his two conversions of the first half, but Bosch restored parity from the kicking tee after hooker Bongi Mbonambi barged over from a powerful maul for SA’s first try in the Champions Cup.

Two more perfect strikes from Bosch and a brilliant finish by Mapimpi under the posts made it 17-7 for the hosts at the close of the first quarter, yet only eight points separated the teams at half time after the Springbok winger cruised over for his second from an audacious no-look pass from scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, and blindside flank Will Evans emerged from a pile of bodies to double Quins’ try tally.

The Sharks made the perfect start after the break when right wing Werner Kok bagged their bonus-point try with an impressive kick and chase, but were down to 13 men midway through the second half after Mbonambi saw yellow for a team infringement, and loosehead prop Ox Nche a red following a head-on-head collision with hooker Jack Walker.

Bosch extended the home side’s lead by three, before former Sharks inside centre Andre Esterhuizen dotted down twice in the right corner to help the visitors close to within six points as the match entered the final 10 minutes.

Bassett soared over for his second but Will Edwards missed the conversion that would’ve set the visitors up for an incredible comeback win, instead allowing fullback Boeta Chamberlain’s score at the death to seal the win for Neil Powell’s troops.

KEO: Make SA a Champions Cup fortress

Photo: Steve Haag Sports/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix

Post by

Devin Hermanus