The Hollywoodbets Sharks secured a 30-19 win over the DHL Stormers on Saturday at the DHL Stadium, with a dominant display helped on by the ill-discipline and below-par lineouts from the hosts.
The Sharks made a dominant start to the match and launched wave after wave of attacks on the Stormers' tryline. After five minutes of play, Jason Jenkins scored off the back of a five-meter lineoutmaul. Jordan Hendrikse converted from the corner to extend the Sharks' lead to 07-00.
However, the Stormers struck back almost immediately when the Sharks could not control the kick-off. The Stormers spread the ball wide with slick hands, and eventually Damian Willemse scored in the corner. The Sharks led 07-05.
Jaco Williams took a pinpoint kick by Jordan Hendrikse to score in the corner. Jordan Hendrikse converted to extend the Sharks' lead to 14-05 after thirteen minutes of play in the first half.
Jordan Hendrikse converted a penalty to extend the Sharks' lead to 17-10 following seventeen minutes of play.
The Stormers slowly clawed their way back into the match, resulting in the Sharks conceding several soft penalties. A quick tap by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu ten meters out caught the Sharks napping, and good hands by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu put Damian Willemse into space to stroll over for the Stormers second try. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to cut the Sharks’ lead to five points and thirteen minutes still to play in the second half.
The Sharks lead 17-12 at the halftime break.
The Sharks once again had a dominant start in the second half, and eventually it was Phepsi Buthelezi who crashed over for the Sharks’ third try, extending their lead to 22-12 with eight minutes played in the second half.
The dominance of the Sharks was steadily increasing with the Stormers’ struggles in the lineouts and ill-discipline, making it easy for the visiting Sharks.
With thirteen minutes to play, Jordan Hendrikse converted his second penalty to extend the Sharks’ lead to 25-12.
With seven minutes to play, the Sharks attacked off a ten-meter lineout maul, and following a brilliant maul, Andre Esterguizen scored the Sharks’ bonus-point try to extend their lead to 30-12.
With time running out, the Sharks collapsed a Stormers maul and received a yellow card and a penalty try against them for their efforts. With two minutes to play in the second half, the Sharks led 30-19, which was the final score.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Damian Willemse (2), Penalty try. Conversion: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Tries: Jason Jenkins, Jaco Williams, Phepsi Buthelezi. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (2). Penalties: Jordan Hendrikse (2).
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (c), 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ruben van Heerden, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurie Matthee.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.