The Hollywoodbets Sharks returned home in style as they secured a 28-24 Vodacom United Rugby Championship victory over Glasgow Warriors at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday.
A highly-entertaining match pitting the reigning URC champions against the Carling Currie Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup champions and a host of internationals saw the latter emerge deserved victors.
It was always going to be a big test for the home side, given the number of changes made for this game, but testament to the character of the Springboks for the way they transitioned back into Black & White colours.
There was no faulting the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ energy on attack and defence and they will take confidence out of this big win.
Despite a weight advantage in the pack, Glasgow were under pressure at scrum-time and after conceding a free kick early, they were then penalised after 10 minutes of play, handing Jordan Hendrikse a 40m effort which he struck well to convert and hand the Hollywoodbets Sharks a three-nil lead.
Given the sheer numbers of internationals in the two teams, this was always going to be a tightly-contested match and it took until the end of the first quarter before the first try was scored, a well-worked effort from an attacking lineout as the ball was taken on the outside and the Scots were over for the first try, taking a 7-3 lead with the conversion.
Although tight, there was a strong build-up to the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ first try, fittingly scored by Siya Kolisi who smashed his way over after urgency on attack had Glasgow under all kinds of pressure and the forwards made no mistake getting the ball in the right area. Hendrikse converted for a 10-7 lead on the half hour.
Not five minutes later, quick-thinking from Aphelele Fassi saw him take a quick tap penalty and dive through the disorganised defence, this after another urgent attack that had all the signs of coming good – which it did – for a 15-7 lead with five minutes of the enthralling half remaining.
Unfortunately, Glasgow struck back almost immediately, attacking down the flank off a scrum in their half and then a clever grubber inside for their second try, missing the conversion to trail 15-12 with two minutes left to play.
There was one last opportunity and Glasgow were under immense pressure defending in their 22, but they managed to hold out until the half-time whistle.
A determined start from the home team had the Scottish side under all kinds of pressure and after conceding a couple of penalties, Hendrikse kicked his team into a six point lead after five minutes’ play.
The tension continued for the ensuing 20 minutes, but Glasgow’s indiscipline continued to falter and they never managed to get going, before a head high tackle on a rampaging Phepsi Buthelezi led to a yellow card and Hendrikse obliged, kicking his team into a 21-12 lead with 15 minutes remaining and crucially beyond a converted try.
Grant Williams finished a perfectly-executed break from Makazole Mapimpi and then kick to chase to put the result out of question and with Hendrikse’s conversion, the Hollywoodbets Sharks held an unassailable 28-12 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.
With a minute left on the clock, a strong maul from an attacking lineout gave Glasgow a sniff of a bonus point, although the conversion from out wide went amiss, making it near impossible to secure any log points.
To their credit they committed one last effort and made it count, scoring in the corner and with it, the four try and losing bonus points to avoid leaving with nothing to show for their efforts.
