The Cell C Sharks welcomed Currie Cup champions and current league leaders, the Airlink Pumas, to Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban and ended their visitors' 4-matche unbeaten streak 19-12.
The Cell C Sharks dominated the first half and showcased an equally incredible defence in the second half to hold out with 14 and 13 men. A well-deserved win by the hosts who were pinned down in their red zone when the hooter sounded.
The first 5 minutes of the match was a ping-pong battle with both teams happy to kick the ball back and forth. The Cell Sharks converted a penalty to open the scoring and led 03-00.
The Cell C Sharks scored a try from a 5m lineout-maul when the Cell C Sharks bulldozed their way over the tryline with scrumhalf Tiaan Fourie dotting down to extend the Cell C Sharks lead to 10-00.
The Cell C Sharks started to dominate, resulting in the Airlink Pumas conceding several penalties of which Fred Zeiling converted two more penalties to go into the halftime rest leading 16-00.
Airlink Pumas started the second half like a house on fire and scored their first points of the match when the referee awarded the Airlink Pumas a penalty try for illegally collapsing the maul. Corne Rahls and Dian Bleuler (Cell C Sharks) are both sent to the bin with a yellow card following the collapsed maul.
The Cell C Sharks did well with 13 men on the field, attacking the Pumas at every opportunity. Another error in judgement made by the Airlink Pumas on the defence gave Fred Zeilinga to convert his 4th penalty. The Cell C Sharks led 19-07 with 20 minutes to go.
The Airlink Pumas started to attack with purpose and scored their first try when Llewellyn Classen scored from the back of a 5m lineout maul to trail 19-12 and 13 minutes to go in the second half. A missed conversion by Pumas flyhalf Tinus de Beer meant that the Airlink Pumas had to score twice to pull off a miracle.
However, the Cell C Sharks defence held and they deservedly won 19-12, ending the Airlink Pumas' 4-match unbeaten streak.
Scoring:
Cell C Sharks: Try Tiaan Fourie. Conversion: Fred Zeilinga. Penalties: Fred Zeilinga (4).
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Penalty try, Llewellyn Classen.
Team:
Cell C Sharks: 15. Nevaldo Fleurs, 14. Phikolomzi Sobahle, 13. Marnus Potgieter, 12. Murray Koster, 11. Anthony Volmink, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Tiaan Fourie, 8. James Venter, 7. Corne Rahl, 6. Thembelani Bholi, 5. Reniel Hugo (c), 4. Ockie Barnard, 3. Khutha Mchunu, 2. Fez Mbatha, 1. Dian Bleuler. Replacements: 16. Dameon Venter, 17. Khwezi Mona, 18. Weihahn Herbst, 19. Marco de Witt, 20. Tinotenda Mavesere, 21. Zee Mkhabela, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Josh Jonas.
Airlink Pumas: 15. Devon Williams, 14. Etienne Taljaard, 13. Diego Appollis, 12. Ali Mgijima, 11. Jade Stighling, 10. Tinus de Beer, 9. Giovan Snyman, 8. Kwanda Dimaza, 7. Francois Kleinhans, 6. Andre Fouche, 5. Shane Kirkwood (c), 4. Deon Slabbert, 3. Ignatius Prinsloo, 2. Llewellyn Classen, 1. Corne Fourie. Replacements: 16. PJ Jacobs, 17. Cameron Dawson, 18. Juice Gumede, 19. Malembe Mpofu, 20. Ruwald van der Merwe, 21. Chriswill September, 22. Brandon Thomson, 23. Stefan Coetzee.
