Sharks stun Cheetahs in Bloem
MATCH REPORT: The Sharks' dream of reaching the Currie Cup semifinals just got a major boost as they shocked the defending champions Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Durban-based team recorded a 25-20 win over the Cheetahs on Saturday.
*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!
Yaw Penxe scored a brace of tries, handing the Sharks a healthy 18-10 lead at the break.
Eduan Keyter was the other try-scorer, while Lionel Cronje added 10 points (two conversions and two penalties) with the boot.
Corne Fourie, Vernon Paulo and Ethan Wentzel scored the Cheetahs' tries.
The win sees the Sharks climb to fourth in the Currie Cup standings with 21 league points.
The Durban-based side is two points behind third-placed Cheetahs and two points clear of Pumas who are fifth.
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Cronje and Wentzel exchanged penalties in the opening minutes.
With the score locked at 3-all, the Sharks did well to dictate the pace of the match.
They gradually built momentum as veteran Cronje's kicking got his team in the right areas.
Nick Hatton stole a line-out inside the Cheetahs' five metre before possession was shifted wide to wing Penxe, who dived over in the corner.
Minutes later Penxe bagged his second try thanks to a timely intercept and his incredible pace. Cronje added the conversion for the 15-3 lead.
It was a bruising encounter and certainly not the start the Cheetahs were happy with.
The defending champs had an attacking line-out and hooker Corne Fourie looks set to score.
However, Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse's brave defence halted the charging Fourie.
Cheetahs were not to be denied for long and the No.2 finally powered over the chalk at the back of maul.
Wentzel narrowed the deficit with a successful conversion.
On the brink of halftime, Cronje slotted a 50 metre kick and handed the Sharks an 18-10 lead.
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The second half started on a very scrappy note.
However, the Cheetahs eventually managed to go through some phases and were inside the Sharks' red zone.
The Cheetahs eventually were rewarded for their efforts when replacement hooker Vernon Paulo dived over at the back of a driving maul, similar to Fourie's try.
The Sharks went down 14 men when Tino Mavesere was yellow-carded by Irish referee Peter Martin.
With just three points separating the side, the final quarter of the match was intense.
Cronje pulled the strings and Sharks camped inside the Cheetahs' 22. Mavesere crossed the line at the back of maul.
However, the flank could not ground the ball thanks to some amazing defence by the Cheetahs.
With five minutes to go, Cheetahs finally took the lead when Wentzel showed his pace and scored in the corner, 20-18.
The lead was short-lived, live-wire wing Eduan Keyter made a break and dotted over the line. Cronje added the extras for the lead.
Cheetahs tried to put in the last attack, but great work by Hendrikse at the breakdown halted the hosts' plan and handed his team the much-deserved win.
Man of the match: Lionel Cronje played an integral part for his team, while Ethan Wentzel also impressed for the Cheetahs. Jaden Hendrikse also deserves a mention for his brave defence and crisp passes from the ruck. However, our nod goes to Eduan Keyter. The Sharks wing was incredible. He made valuable metres with his strong runs and scored his team's winning try.
The scorers:
For Cheetahs:
Tries: Fourie, Paulo, Wentzel
Con: Wentzel
Pen: Wentzel
For Sharks:
Tries: Penxe 2, Keyter
Cons: Cronje 2
Pens: Cronje 2
Yellow cards: Tino Mavesere (Sharks, 48 - cynical offside), Tiaan Swanepoel (Sharks, 71 - knock on)
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Litha Nkulu, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Hencus van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Pierre Uys, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Marco Janse van Vuren, 23 Reinhardt Fortuin
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 LItelihle Bester, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 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 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Dian Bleuler
Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Braam Reyneke, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Coetzee le Roux, 20 Hennie Sieberhagen, 21 Siya Ningiza, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Quinton Immelman
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