Vodacom United Rugby Championship action resumed this weekend when the Cell C Sharks scored an emphatic 39-10 bonus-point win against the Emirates Lions.
The Cell V Sharks started like a house on fire and scored two early tries as the result of continuous pressure applied by the hosts. However, a mistake by the Cell C Sharks on their goal line gifted the Emirates Lions a seven-pointer. The Emirates Lions looked like a new team with a momentum shift evident after the try of the visitors.
The Cell C Sharks led 12-07 going into the second quarter. The pace of the game dropped considerably with the host attacking most of the match while the well-organised defence by the visitors kept the Cell C Sharks scoreless during the second quarter. The Cell C Sharks are the dominant side, however ..........
The third quarter followed more or less the same pattern as the second with the Cell C Sharks still " dominating'. A try after a mistake by the Emirates Lions gifted a seven-pointer to the Cell C Sharks which saw them extend their lead to 22-10 with 20 minutes to play.
The Cell C Sharks upped the pace in the final quarter which saw them scoring seventeen unanswered tries to win deservedly 39-10.
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Makazole Mapimpi (2), Boeta Chamberlain, Grant Williams, Siya Kolisi. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2), Lionel Cronje. Penalties: Curwin Bosch, Lionel Cronje.
Emirates Lions: Try: Edwill van der Merwe. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse. Penalty: Jordan Hendrikse.
How it happened:
08:31 A missed tackle on Rohan Janse van Rensburg allowed van Rensburg to get the offload to Makazole Mapimpi away. Mapimpi going over in the corner for the Cell C Sharks' first points. (07-00)
15:42 Boeta Chamberlain slip through the gap to score the Cell C Sharks' second try. The Cell C Sharks set up camp for a good 5 minutes before the gap opened. (12-00)
17:53 Edwill van der Merwe fell on the ball which was dropped from the kick-off. (12-07)
43:06 Curwin Bosch converted a penalty for the Cell C Sharks. (15-07)
46:02 Jordan Hendrikse converted a penalty for the Emirates Lions. (15-10)
55:08 A charge down of a clearance kick by the Emirates Lions put Grant Williams in a gap, after which he scored the Cell C Sharks' third try. (22-10)
67:51 Lionel Cronje converted a penalty for the Cell C Sharks. (25-10)
74:08 A comedy of errors by the Emirates Lions lead to a penalty to the Cell C Sharks. A quick tap by the Cell C Sharks created space for Siya Kolisis to score in the corner. (32-10)
74:54 Makazole Mapimpi controlled the ball well with his feet to guide the ball into the Emirates Lions in-goal area after which he scored his second try of the day. (37-10)
76:47 Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) was shown a yellow card.
Teams
Cell C Sharks: 15. Boeta Chamberlain, 14. Werner Kok, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Jeandre Labuschagne, 6. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Gerbrandt Grobler, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Dan Jooste, 1. Thomas du Toit. Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Dian Bleuler, 18. Hanro Jacobs, 19. Reniel Hugo, 20. Siya Kolisi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Ben Tapuai.
Emirates Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Edwill van der Merwe, 13. Rynhardt Jonker, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Quan Horn, 10. Jordan Hendrikse, 9. Sanele Nohamba, 8. Ruan Venter, 7. Darrien Landsberg, 6. Emmanuel Tshituka, 5. Reinhard Nothnagel (c), 4. Willem Alberts, 3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2. Pieter Botha, 1. JP Smith. Replacements: 16. Jaco Visagie, 17. Sithembiso Sithole, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20. Jaco Kriel, 21. Andre Warner, 22. Gianni Lombard, 23. Stean Pienaar.
