It could have been 1995 all over again … a flashback to the soaking France-South Africa World Cup semifinal as the rain pelted down in buckets ahead of the match between the Sharks and Western Province at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Friday evening.
By halftime 32 mm of rain had been measured at the ground. Not surprisingly, only 6 223 souls braved the cold and wet evening — later it was reported to have increased to 11 541 after wet-weather traffic and road accidents made travel to the stadium rather tough.
But they were rewarded by a thrilling battle between muddied gladiators in which defences held sway as the Sharks failed to take their chances until near the end. Scrumhalf Scott Mathie managed to get in for the only try in an important 16-6 victory.
The other points came from three penalties by Sharks flyhalf Fancois Steyn and the conversion by Adrian Jacobs. Western Province tried in vain for a bonus point with a late penalty but in the end went home empty handed in spite of two penalty goals from their flyhalf Francois Olivier.
Fortunately the downpour eased a trifle before the kick-off but conditions were still slippery and not conducive to the running style of rugby expected from the sides.
The Natalians had the wind at their backs in the first half as both sides resorted to tactical kicking to counter the muddy and slippery conditions.
All too often the ball slithered to a halt in the water puddles as the rain began pelting down 14 minutes into the game. It eased, however, in the second session.
With the two packs engaged in a fierce battle it became clear that mistakes rather than skill would lead to scoring opportunities. And so it happened, 20 minutes after the start when the Sharks were penalised 30m out and in front of their posts. Flyhalf Naas Olivier did well to lift the mud-raked ball over the crossbar for the first points.
The Sharks were a metre a way from a great try immediately afterwards as flyhalf Francois Steyn broke left and in a chase for the line was edged out at the corner flag.
But Steyn did collect a three-pointer soon afterwards with a well-taken penalty from a fair distance on the left hand side of the park.
The Province line was again under threat as halftime approached but the dreaded turnover thwarted the Sharks yet again. Steyn was awarded a third penalty just before the break and again from far out on the left, his kick snaked over for a 6-3
halftime lead to the Sharks.
Province came close on the resumption but brave defence prevented a pushover try. With the players slipping and sliding all over the place fluent moves were never going to be pretty and indeed were few and far between. Olivier tried a long-range penalty but was well short of target.
Then, with 16 minutes left, the Sharks secured another valuable three-pointer again from the boot of Steyn JP Pietersen. – Sapa