Sharks and Stormers draw in card feast
URC MATCH REPORT: The Sharks and Stormers played to a 22-all draw in a dramatic finish to their encounter in Durban on Saturday.
In a game that produced as many yellow cards as tries, the match ended with the Stormers coming back from 8-22 down in the final 12 minutes to level the scores through two penalty tries.
The Sharks, who scored two tries through Springboks Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi, also saw four players yellow carded - including Am (after the referee lost patience in the wake of a series of repeated infringements), Khutha Mchunu (cynical foul, illegally collapsing a maul near the tryline), Sibusiso Nkosi (cynical foul, playing a man without the ball) and Aphelele Fassi (cynical foul, slapping the ball down with open tryline).
The Fassi yellow card also resulted in the second penalty try, which gave the Stormers the draw in dramatic fashion.
Damian Willemse scored a try for the Stormers that started the comeback in the 52nd minute, after they were training 3-19 early in the second half.
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The home side made a strong start and put their skipper Lukhanyo Am over for an early try, which would be the only five-pointer of the first half.
The humid and slippery conditions were making handling very difficult and while the Stormers had plenty of possession, they were unable to capitalise.
Am was eventually shown a yellow card after a series of penalties, which saw the Stormers move from one tryline to the other. Flyhalf Manie Libbok stepped up to kick the penalty, to make it 5-3.
The Durban side were enjoying scrum dominance and that resulted in a penalty and a drop-goal from their flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain, which took their lead out to 11-3 at half-time.
The Stormers defended manfully, but were reduced to 14 just before half-time, when Deon Fourie was shown a yellow card.
The home team were first to score in the second half as they made the most of the extra man, with Makazole Mapimpi finishing in the corner before they followed that up with another three points from a scrum penalty.
The Stormers refused to give in and came up with a response immediately.
The ball went to Warrick Gelant on the blindside and he managed to get a magic offload away to Damian Willemse, who did well to finish in the corner.
They almost followed that up with a second try, coming within inches of the tryline, but the home side managed to clear the threat and would be next to score with another penalty from Chamberlain.
However, the Stormers kept coming and were back within seven through a penalty try after the Sharks spoiled a powerful maul.
They kept pushing and the Sharks were down to 13 when Sibusiso Nkosi was shown a yellow card for taking Seabelo Senatla out off the ball.
The final play saw the Stormers pressing on the line and a deliberate knock-down by Aphelele Fassi when there was a two-man overlap, which resulted in the penalty try.
The scorers
For the Sharks
Tries: Am, Mapimpi
Pens: Chamberlain 3
DG: Chamberlain
For the Stormers
Tries: Willemse, Penalty try 2
Cons: Penalty tries do not require a conversion
Pen: Libbok
Yellow cards: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks, 20 - repeated infringements, offside), Deon Fourie (Stormers, 38 - repeated infringements, illegal play at the breakdown), Khutha Mchunu (Sharks, 68 - cynical foul, illegally collapsing a maul near the tryline), Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks, 77 - cynical foul, playing a man without the ball), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks, 80 - cynical foul, slapping the ball down with open tryline)
Teams
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Henry Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi, 7 Jeandré Labuschagne, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Joaquin Bonilla, 23 Jeremy Ward.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Nama Xaba, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
@rugby365com & additional reporting by THESTORMERS