The Hollywoodbets Sharks scored a URC double over the ill-disciplined DHL Stormers, with a deserved 36-24 bonus-point win in Durban. The Hollywoodbets Sharks shocked the DHL Stormers a week ago in Cape Town with a 30-19 win.
The Stormers started like a house on fire. Cobus Reinach took a quick tap ten meters from the Sharks' tryline and scored the Stormers first try of the match to lead 05-00.
The Stormers conceded several penalties in their red zone, and after conceding a yellow card to Paul de Villiers, Grant Williams sniped to open the scoring for the Sharks after twelve minutes of play. Jordan Hendrikse converted to edge the Sharks into the lead 07-05.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted two penalties, edging the Stormers into an 11-07 lead after twenty minutes of play.
Following twenty-four minutes of play in the first half, with the momentum with the Sharks, the Sharks continued to apply pressure, aided by several penalties conceded by the Stormers. Eventually, it was Ethan Hooker who crashed over to score the Sharks' second try. Jordan Hendrikse converted to edge the Sharks into a 14-11 lead.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted two penalties during the final three minutes of the first half to edge the Stormers into a 17-14 lead going into the halftime break.
Despite the Stormers leading at the halftime break, the Sharks dominated on-field action, leading possession 65/35 and territory 72/28 stats.
Individual brilliance by Paul de Villiers secured the Stormers' second try of the match after ten minutes of play in the second half. The Stormers pounced on a mistake made by Fassie.
The Sharks hit back immediately, using their big boys to earn hard yards and following wave after wave of attacks by the Sharks’ heavyweights, captain Andre Esterhuizen crashed over. Jordan Hendrikse converted to cut the Stormers’ lead to 24-21.
The Sharks continued to apply pressure on the Stormers’ defence, and great hands by Grant Williams at the back of a lineout-maul put winger Jaco Williams into space to score the Sharks’ bonus-point try. Jordan Hendriks converted, edging the Sharks into a 28-24 lead with twenty-seven minutes still to play in the second half.
With twelve minutes still to play, Jordan Hendrikse converted a penalty to increase the Sharks’ lead to 31-24.
Jaco Williams dove on a ball in the Stormers’ in-goal area, scoring a try while Warrick Gelant were daydreaming. Hendrikse missed the conversion, and the Sharks led 36-24 with eight minutes still to play in the second half, which was the final score.
Scorers:
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Tries: Grant Williams (2), Ethan Hooker, Andre Esterhuizen, Jaco Williams. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (4). Penalty: Jordan Hendrikse.
DHL Stormers: Tries: Cobys Reinach, Paul de Villiers. Conversion: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Penalties: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (4).
Teams:
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (c), 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Oli Kebble. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Warrick Gelant.