In a tough, bruising and uncompromising Currie Cup match in Durban on Saturday, the Free State Cheetahs muscled their way to a 29-18 victory to end the unbeaten run of the Sharks.
Yet in the final analysis it was the Sharks who scored three tries to two, but were blown away by the accurate goal kicking of Free State flyhalf Willem de Waal. De Waal slotted two conversions and five penalty goals — two of them from long range — for a tally of 19 points.
In contrast, Sharks flyhalf Ruan Pienaar succeeded with only one out of his four shots at the posts.
But with the Lions having also lost a cross-section game to Western Province earlier in the day, the Sharks remain as contenders for one of the two top places in the Currie Cup log heading for the semifinals.
Pienaar and Deon Carstens scored two tries inside of three minutes early in the second half to put the home side into the lead 13-9, but in the end the Cheetahs replied with two of their own.
The first went to Ryno van der Merwe, who took advantage of some slack defence on the part of the Sharks. The second was the result of an extraordinary piece of soccer dribbling skill by wing Eddie Fredericks that probably would have had him being offered a Bafana Bafana contract on the spot.
Thereafter, it was De Waal who settled the issue.
In between, there was some rugged defence on the part of both sides and some massive hits. Substitute forward Loutjie Louw got the Sharks’ third try on the whistle but it was too late.
A cause for concern though in the Sharks camp must be the high penalty count against them and too few in their favour on the day.
Province back on track
Western Province got their Currie Cup campaign back on track with a resounding 38-23 victory over the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions led 13-10 at the break.
Province outscored the home team by five tries to two. More importantly, they showed that although they were nowhere near their best, they could threaten at the business end of the competition.
Speedy left wing Zhahier Ryland was the hat-trick hero for the visitors — whenever the diminutive left-winger touched the ball, he set pulses racing. He was named man of the match.
The first half was dull, but the second exploded into action and made for an absorbing encounter.
The Lions took the lead in the 3rd minute via a Tiaan Snyman penalty. Province replied soon after when flyhalf Peter Grant levelled matters in the seventh minute.
Both teams were guilty of squandering possession in the opening quarter and the sparse crowd had little to shout about.
Whenever a move became promising, it inevitably came to nought due to a plethora of dropped passes and wrong options. The defence of both teams more than did their respective duties and played a role in the fact that it took a further 18 minutes before the scorers were troubled.
It came from turnover ball when rapid Ryland — from Bo-Kaap in Cape Town — snapped up the loose ball on his 10m line and kicked ahead.
He showed his blistering pace, beating both Wylie Human and a desperate Snyman before dotting down. Grant kicked the extras and the visitors led 10-3.
The Lions were stung into action and replied with their first try virtually from the re-start. Captain Wikus van Heerden — who had a fine game throughout — burst through the defensive line and fed Jorrie Muller, who went over under the poles. Snyman’s conversion again drew the teams level.
Grant missed a 33rd-minute penalty attempt before Snyman kicked his team into the half-time lead with a late long-range penalty.
He increased that lead by three points four minutes into the second half, but it did not last long as the visitors hit their straps in spectacular style moments later.
A purple patch between the 51st and 58th minutes yielded three fabulous tries and took Province from 16-10 down to 31-16 ahead. The pick of that trio was undoubtedly the third to 23-year-old Ryland, whose impressive turn of speed flummoxed Human, again.
Lions coach Frans Ludeke brought Nel Fourie on at flyhalf, but it was too little, too late.
Oginga Siwundla did get his team’s second try with 10 minutes left, but Ryland put the final nail in the coffin with his third three minutes from time.
Lacklustre win for Griquas
Griquas won an unimpressive Currie Cup premier-division match in Wellington on Saturday when they beat Boland 36-20.
Griquas led 21-8 at half-time.
Boland came up short in every department of the game and were completely outplayed on the day. Boland fullback Justin Peach had a nightmarish time, with the boot missing no less than four attempts at the posts.
The home side upped their performance in the second half, but will have to improve their performance twofold when they face the Leopards in Potchefstroom next Friday.
Griquas left with a valuable bonus point after crossing over for four tries.
Griffons defeated
Without the service of two of their key players, Bevan Fortuin on loan to the Cheetahs and Danie de Beer with a neck injury, the Eagles still managed to defeat the Griffons 33-25 at Outeniqua Park on Saturday.
The half-time score was 19-13 in favour of the visiting team.
Although the result suited the small home crowd, the expectancy was that their side would run away with proceedings. However, the visitors managed to outscore their opponents by four tries to three.
Three yellow cards were issued by referee Joan Meewson — two to the visitors and one to the Eagles.
Falcons beat Pumas
The Falcons beat the Pumas 25-18 in a hard-fought Currie Cup match at the Bosman Stadium in Brakpan on Saturday.
The Falcons led 10-3 at the break.
The home team scored three tries to the Pumas’ two, while Louis Strydom slotted two conversions and two penalties.
Wing Brendan April, lock Frikkie Swart and replacement prop Tenk Hendriks all crossed the line in a match the Falcons dominated throughout.
For the Pumas, fullback Casper Steyn’s solitary penalty was their only reward in the opening 40 minutes.
Second-half tries to Danie Vermeulen and Hyron Thysse, though, brought the Witbank-based outfit back into the game.
In the end, however, it proved to be too little, too late as the Falcons swept to victory. — Sapa