Despite playing their Carling Currie Cup match against Toyota Free State with the possession stats favouring the home team, the Hollywoodbets Sharks played a smart tactical game to wrestle the result.
“It wasn’t the best rugby game to watch, a bit scrappy, but that’s what happens when two teams go hard at each other and fortunately for us, we took our chances, played in the right areas and finished on the right side of the scoreboard,” explained Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach JP Pietersen after his side had defeated Free State 25-20 on Saturday.
It wasn’t easy, but playing in the right areas of the field, putting pressure on the hosts, playing until the final whistle and taking opportunities when presented proved to be the difference.
That and the courage and determination.
“It showed the fight in the group, it’s something we’ve been working hard on since we’ve been together,” Pietersen pointed out. “The fight and the care they have for each other is what takes a team over the line.”
It was a tight game and Pietersen acknowledged the competitiveness both sides showed.
“Contesting at the lineout was good, the scrums were good, we did compete well, both teams did. When they scored in the last 10 minutes to go ahead, they felt they were on top., and then out of nowhere we struck through the middle, Eduan Keyter scored the try.
“It was a good rugby game from a coaching point of view, defences were good with no bonus points for tries, the game was played technically well.”
Asking for effort, this was exactly what his team gave him and while it wasn’t perfect, it was a match-winning effort to be proud of.
“I’ve been asking for a complete performance, but we we’ve seen during this campaign, we’ve been a bit up and down, sometimes we have a good first half and sometimes the second half is great.
“What we spoke about before the match was to have a good start and to stay in the game. We led the whole game until the 70th minute.
“Our composure was good and massive credit must go to Nick Hatton for keeping the guys calm and composed under pressure, and for staying in the game.
“Free State took their opportunity when we showed a lack of concentration at the lineout and went on to score.
“But massive credit to Nick to tell the boys that there were still five minutes and if we got in the right areas, we could take our opportunities, so well done to the players. The coaches can only do so much, but it’s up to the players to believe enough to get over the tryline.”
The Hollywoodbets Sharks now face DHL Western Province in Cape Town this weekend in the final away game of the pool stages before playing their last two games at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
