The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV delivered the knock-out blow against Toyota Free State in a pulsating Carling Currie Cup at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday to emerge worthy 25-20 victors.
The game had twists and turns at every juncture and both sides enjoyed periods of dominance both on the field and on the scoreboard, but ultimately it was a passionate finish from the visitors as they wrestled control of the game and the score.
Despite enjoying a 30kg pack weight advantage, Free State conceded the first scrum penalty and that was where the visiting Durban side capitalised to score the first points of the game through the boot of Lionel Cronje for a three-nil lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
Free State drew level on the quarter hour after a defensive penalty, but five minutes later the Hollywoodbets Sharks retook the lead, a steal at the lineout turning possession over and then once the ball was sent to the midfield, a deft grubber from Cronje for Yaw Penxe to run on to and there was no mistake for the wing as he pushed his team into an 8-3 lead.
Penxe hit the double right from the kick-off when he intercepted a long pass from the home side and raced all of 60 metres to score the second try, with Cronje adding the extras for a 15-3 lead.
The sides hammered away at each other with Free State sensing the need for a score before half-time and a sustained attack in the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ 22 finally paid off with a driving maul that resulted in their first try, the conversion was good and the lead cut to five points.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks had the last word, two minutes into extra time a good turnover in the middle of the park and then a penalty saw Cronje stepping up and slotting from 50m to take an 18-10 lead into the half-time break.
Disaster struck in the 10th minute of the second half when the Hollywoodbets Sharks were reduced to 14 men and then Free State once again opted for the maul which paid off, although the conversion went wide and the home side’s dominance in the territory stats paying off.
As the game approached the 70-minute mark, the TMO was called to rule on a possible Hollywoodbets Sharks’ try after a strong maul, but the ball was held up over the line as the Durban side placed urgency in putting distance between themselves and the home team.
But further damage was done when the Hollywoodbets Sharks lost a second man to the sin bin and the numbers advantage paid off for the home side as they exploited having an extra man on the field to score their third try with six minutes left to play to enjoy a narrow 20-18 lead.
But their relief was short-lived as Eduan Keyter carved his way through the defence with power and pace, showing his killer instinct with the tryline beckoning and together with Cronje’s successful conversion, the game was wide open at 25-20.
In the final play of the game, Jaden Hendrikse was the first jackal on target as Free State looked to run the ball out of their 22 and although the penalty conversion for holding on went wide, there was no more time left on the clock and it was the Hollywoodbets Sharks who claimed a famous victory.
Captain Nick Hatton was thrilled with the outcome of the game, under difficult circumstances.
“Credit to the Cheetahs, we knew they would come out to play, but our boys stuck it out,” he said afterwards.
“We always knew we could do it if we had belief, we have the hunger.”
