Hendrikse scores a try as Sharks see off Griquas
MATCH REPORT: The Sharks recorded their second win of the 2024 Currie Cup season after they beat Griquas 40-21 in Round Six in Durban.
The home side outscored their opponents by six tries to three in the match.
One of the Sharks' try-scorers was Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, who was making his first appearance in four months.
Young hooker Ethan Bester was a late inclusion in the Sharks' starting line-up and he also got a five-pointer.
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The Sharks had all the ball in the opening minutes and after sustained pressure, Hendrikse dived over for the first try of the game.
The home side proceeded to dominate possession and territory for the rest of the opening quarter and they increased their lead when Hakeem Kunene was put into space to score a try after some slick handling.
The Sharks' backline provided the perfect example of how to use space on the field in the build-up to their third try which was scored by Eduan Keyter in the 25th minute.
Griquas eventually found themselves on the scoreboard in the 28th minute after Marco de Witt ran a brilliant line on attack to race away for a try.
However, the Sharks bounced back immediately with Jannes Potgieter crashing over for his team's fourth try.
JP Pietersen's side ended the first half on a high after Jurenzo Julius pounced on a loose ball in the midfield before racing away for his team's fifth try.
It was a great start to the second half for Griquas with captain Sango Xamlashe sprinting to the tryline after a great break in the midfield.
Griquas were right back in the game in the 58th minute when the ball was spread wide to Dylan Maart, who beat Keyter on the outside on his way to the tryline.
However, young Sharks hooker Ethan Bester showed his quality by breaking away from a maul to power over the Griquas tryline in the 63rd minute.
The match ended on a sour note with Griquas' replacement Hanru Sirgel getting a red card for a dangerous clear-out.
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The scorers:
For Sharks:
Tries: Hendrikse, Kunene, Keyter, Potgieter, Julius, Bester
Cons: Cronje 5
For Griquas:
Tries: De Witt, Xamlashe, Maart
Cons: Dobela 2, Robinson
Red card: Hanru Sirgel (Griquas, 80' - foul play, dangerous clear-out)
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 LItelihle Bester, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Bathobele Hlekani, 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Ethan Bester, 1 Braam Reyneke.
Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Hennie Sieberhagen, 20 Siya Ningiza, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Anthony Volmink.
Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Hanru Sirgel, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Zinedine Robinson, 23 Jay-Cee Nel.
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
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