The weekend's Vodacom United Rugby Championship ninth-round action started with the clash in Durban between the Cell C Sharks and Ospreys. Two late tries by the Cell C Sharks secured a 25-10 win.
The first quarter was an arm wrestle between two determined sides looking to establish some kind of dominance. The Cell C Sharks converted two penalties to lead 06-00 with 60 minutes to go.
No points were scored in the second quarter with the quality of the action was nothing to get excited about with the unforced errors not helping at all. The Cell C Sharks are the "dominant" side, however ...........
However ................................. Both teams scored a try and the Cell Sharks led 11-05 and had twenty minutes to play.
Two tries by the Cell C Sharks within the last 2 minutes of the match secured a 25-10 win for the home team. The Ospreys were the "dominant" side during the last quarter, however, errors at critical times cost the visitors a win.
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Curwin Bosch, .James Venter Conversion: Curwin Bosch (2). Penalties: Curwin Bosch (2)
Ospreys: Tries: Luke Morgan, Morgan Morris.
As it happened:
11:15 Curwin Bosch converted a penalty for the Cell C Sharks. (03-00)
19:19 Curwin Bosch converted a second penalty for the Cell C Sharks. (06-00)
44:16 The Ospreys started like a house on fire. Luke Morgan caught a brilliant cross-kick to score for the visitors in the corner. (06-05)
49:50 Sikhumbuzo Notshe scored the Cell C Sharks' first try after the Cell C Sharks patiently built the pressure with Notshe bulldozing his way over the tryline. (11-05)
65:58 Morgan Morris scored the Ospreys' second try. The Ospreys built pressure after a driving maul with Morris "forcing" his way over the tryline. (11-10)
76:15 Curwin Bosch cut through the defence of the visitors to score the Cell C Sharks' second try. (18-10)
80:28 James Venter scored the Cell C Sharks' third try of the match. (25-10)
Teams:
Cell C Sharks: 15. Boeta Chamberlain, 14. . Marnus Potgieter, 14. Francois Venter, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Jeandre Labuschagne, 6. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Vincent Tshituka, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Ox Nche. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. James Venter, 21. Grant Williams, 22. Nevaldo Fleurs, 23. Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Ospreys: 15. Max Nagy, 14. Luke Morgan, 13. Michael Collins, 12. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, 11. Keelan Giles, 10. Jack Walsh, 9. Rhys Webb (c), 8. Morgan Morris, 7. Will Hickey, 6. Ethan Roots, 5. Huw Sutton, 4. Bradley Davies, 3. Tom Botha, 2. Sam Parry, 1. Rhys Henry. Replacements: 16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Garyn Phillips, 18. Ben Warren, 19. Jack Regan, 20. Harri Deaves, 21. Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22. Luke Scully, 23. Cai Evans.