Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
The Cell C Sharks hosted the DHL Stormers in Durban in the fourth round of the Pro14 Rainbow Cup SA looking for a win that could have possibly promoted them to the top of the competition log at the end of the weekend.
Surprisingly the Sharks were the more dominant up front. With 75 minutes of great rugby the teams were still level at 22-22. A penalty from a scrum against the Sharks handing the Stormers a very important win.
09:20 An extraordinary 62m kick from Curwin Bosch give the Sharks an early lead. The ill-discipline in general from the Stormers, but a further 10m awarded against them after the initial penalty gave Boch's kick the necessary help to be successful, (03-00).
Surprisingly the Sharks' scrum is dominant at this stage, earning them already three penalties.
19:95 Ox Nche scored the first try of the match after the Sharks set up camp in the red zone for a good 5 minutes, (10-00).
20:00 With 20 minutes left in the first half the forwards of the Sharks are dominating their opposition in all facets of a forwarded dominated 1st 20 minutes.
24:29 Edwill vd Merwe score the try of the weekend after an individual effort of 65m. Great speed, determination and attitude by vd Merwe, (10-07).
35:29 Great work by the Stormers' forwards in the Sharks' red zone combined with some slick hands by the backs of the Stormers allowed Edwill vd Merwe to stroll over the tryline for his second try of the match, (10-12).
The Sharks' forwards dominated the first 30 minutes of the game, with the Stormers' pack claiming the last 10 minutes. The momentum shifted in favour of the Stormers at the end of the first half.
40:59 A break from Jantjies gave Pieter-Steph du Toit a chance to stretch his legs. Du Toit Ran 40 m without a Sharks' hand touching him to score the Stormers' third try, (10-19).
45:44 An almost immediate response from the Sharks. Yaw Penxe going over after great work by Siya Kolisi, (15-19).
49:08 A mistake by the Stormers on the attack in the Sharks' 22 led to Aphele Fassi to score the Sharks' 3rd try, (22-19). The Stormers suspected a knock-on and did not bother to chase the upfield kick from Fassi.
54:05 Tim Swiel immediately converted a penalty for the Stormers after replacing a struggling van Reenen, (22-22).
60:00 The game is still balanced on a knife's edge with the Sharks maybe just the better off.
77:20 A penalty against the Sharks scrum gave Tim Swiel the opportunity to seal the game for the Stormers, (22-25).
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks: Try: Ox Nche, Yaw Penxe, Aphelel Fassi. Conversion: Curwin Bosch (2). Penalty: Curwin Bosch.
DHL Stormers: Tries: Edwill vd Merwe (2), Pieter-Steph du Toit . Conversion: Abner van Reenen (2) Penalty: Tim Swiel (2)
Teams:
Cell C Sharks: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Sbu Nkosi, 13. Lukhanyo Am (C), 12. Marius Louw, 11. Yaw Penxe, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 8. Henco Venter, 7. Thembelani Bholi, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Reniel Hugo, 4. JJ van der Mescht, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Fez Mbatha, 1. Ox Nche. Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19. Ruben van Heerden, 20. Phepsi Buthelezi, 21. Sanele Nohamba, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Werner Kok.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain). Replacements (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Adre Smith, 21 Juarno Augustus, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Tim Swiel, 24 Marcel Theunissen, 25 Dan du Plessis.