The Cell C Sharks hosted the DHL Western Province in Durban and scored a brilliant 35-20 win to significantly reduce the lead the log leaders, Vodacom Bulls had on the Sharks before round 3 of the 2022 Carling Currie Cup.
With the score level at 13-13 at the end of the first half, both teams still struggled to cope with the conditions and made several mistakes to rid the game of any momentum.
During the third quarter, the Sharks started running directly at the defenders of Western Province which struggled to contain the big boys from the Sharks. An unanswered 22 points scored in the third quarter set up the hosts for an easy win over their visitors.
10:36 Tim Swiel converted a penalty to open the score for DHL Western Province. (00-03)
20:00 A stop-start affair as both sides made several mistakes in their effort to gain dominance.
21:03 Curwin Bosch levelled the scores with a converted penalty for the Sharks. (03-03)
25:46 Inny Radebe scored Cell Sharks' first try as he sneaked over in the corner after the Sharks set up camp on Western Province's try line. (10-03)
29:50 Yaw Penxe (Sharks) was sent to the bin for ten minutes.
30:36 Tim Swiel added another three-pointer for Western Province. (10-06)
34:01 Leolin Zas scored Western Province's second try after a great corner kick from Tim Swiel was caught by Zas. (10-13)
39:10 Tim Swiel (Western Province) was sent off with a yellow card.
39:57 Curwin Bosch levelled the score with a converted penalty. (13-13)
40:00 Both teams struggled to cope with the conditions making several mistakes to rid the game of any momentum.
42:55 Celimpilo Gumede scored the Sharks' second try after a bullocking run by the number eight. (20-13)
48:21 Fez MBatha scored the Sharks' third try from the back of a lineout-maul. (25-13)
52:04 Curwin Bosch converted another penalty for the Sharks. (28-13)
53:39 Marnus Potgieter scored the Sharks' bonus point try after some great handling by the Sharks' backline. (35-13)
60:00 The Sharks scored an unanswered twenty-two points in the third quarter outplaying the visitors in all facets of play. The Sharks attacking very direct testing the Western Province's commitment to the attack.
72:08 Kade Wolhuter scored Western Province's second try of the match after beating three defenders. Wolhuter was back from a serious injury nine months ago. (35-20)
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Inny-Christian Radebe, Celimpilo Gumede, Fez MBatha, Marnus Potgieter. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (3). Penalties: Curwin Bosch (3).
DHL Western Province: Try: Leolin Zas, Kade Wolhuter. Conversions: Tim Swiel (2). Penalties: Tim Swiel (2).
Cell C Sharks: 15 Inny-Christian Radebe, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Werner Kok, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Marnus Potgieter, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Celimpilo Gumede, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Emile van Heerden, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Khwezi Mona. Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanru Jacobs, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Olajuwon Noa, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Murray Koster.
DHL Western Province: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Andre Manuel, 13 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Tim Swiel (captain), 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Allister Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Jacques Goosen, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Hilton Lobberts, 20 Hannes Gous, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Ethan James.