Sharks thump hapless Dragons

URC REPORT: The Sharks returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship after they recorded a 51-3 victory over the Dragons in a Round 15 clash in Durban on Friday.

The home side got six tries, two of which were penalty tries during the 80 minutes.

The visitors had three players yellow carded in second half and at one stage they were playing with just 13 men.

The Sharks suffered the first defeat to a Northern Hemisphere side on South African soil this season when they were beaten by Edinburgh last weekend, but they were hardly troubled on Friday.

Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi crossed in quick succession after the Dragons lost Ross Moriarty to a serious-looking knee injury in the first half.

Werner Kok added a third try seven minutes into the second half and the two penalty tries – both for deliberate knock-ons – put the Sharks out of sight.

Anthony Volmink completed the scoring late on, with Curwin Bosch kicking 17 points.

Bosch booted the Sharks into a 6-0 lead with a pair of penalties as the hosts dominated the early stages before Josh Lewis halved the deficit in the 16th minute.

The margin was back to six by the end of the first quarter thanks to another three points from Bosch’s boot, but the visitors were dealt a blow when Wales loose forward Moriarty went down in considerable discomfort following a heavy collision with Phepsi Buthelezi.

Moriarty left the field on a cart to be replaced by Taine Basham after receiving treatment on the field and the Dragons conceded the game’s first try soon after, with Nche driving over under the posts.

Bosch added the extras and was on target again after Mbonambi touched down from a driving maul in the 33rd minute.

Kok carved a route through the Dragons defence as he embarked on an unstoppable run to go over seven minutes into the second half, with Bosch taking the score to 30-3.

The bonus point was in the bag for the Sharks when a deliberate knock-on by Lewis was punished with a penalty try and 10 minutes in the sin bin.

Lewis Jones committed the same offence with the same outcome only five minutes later, temporarily reducing the Dragons to 13 men and extending the Sharks’ lead further.

Volmink scored the final try 13 minutes from time and Bosch moved the scoreboard beyond 50, while the Dragons were shown a third yellow card – this time for Ben Fry – before time was up.

Man of the Match

There can be few finer sights in the URC than Sharks winger Kok in full flight and he was excellent on the night - always a threat and contributing a try to the cause.

Play of the match

The home side's third try demonstrated Kok at his best, going on a superb run to leave defenders in his wake, with his trademark golden locks flowing behind him.

The scorers:

For Sharks:

Tries: Nche, Mbonambi, Kok, Penalty Try (2), Volmink

Cons: Bosch 4

Pens: Bosch 3

For Dragons:

Pen: Lewis

Yellow cards: Josh Lewis (Dragons, 59 - cynical play, deliberate knockdown); Lewis Jones (Dragons, 64 - cynical play, deliberate knockdown); Ben Fry (Dragons, 80 - foul play, tackle with no arms)

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Jeandré Labuschagne, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Thomas du Toit (captain), 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.

Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.

Dragons: 15 Ioan Davies, 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Adam Warren, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Josh Lewis, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Ben Fry, 6 Harri Keddie (captain), 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Joe Davies, 3 Leon Brown, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Greg Bateman.

Replacements: 16 Taylor Davies, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Huw Taylor, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Will Reed, 23 Jordan Williams.

Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)

TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Additional Source: @URCOfficial