Sharks speedster Thaakir Abrahams celebrates. (Photo by: Harry Murphy/SPORTSFILE/Getty Images)
The Sharks weathered recent rugby storms to pick up priceless value 22-19 victory against Edinburgh at the DAM Health Stadium in the Scottish capital on Saturday.
The Sharks came under heavy pressure in the final five minutes but not only repelled the hosts, they did so with some physicality and flair to clean up the rather soiled South Africa United Rugby Championship copybook this week.
SUMMARY | URC – Edinburgh v Sharks
The win, the Sharks’ seventh of the season, was huge from a record perspective as it moved them past Edinburgh to eighth on the record with 33 points.
In a game that moved with a high-octane pace from the start, it was the Sharks who had the mental and physical grunt to keep the desperate hosts at bay.
The Sharks started the game in the best possible way when scrum-half Grant Williams stole an interception and ran in for the first try of the game in the fifth minute.
It was the start of a period of dominance for the visitors, who were able to move the ball around in the first 20 minutes and also asked their hosts pressing questions in defense.
One such moment was a wide move by the Sharks that saw Springbok prop Retshegofaditswe ‘Ox’ Nche gain meters on the outside before moving past Williams.
The nimble scrum-half wobbled just before the line, but Edinburgh wing Wes Goosen’s illegal ruck work saw him pick up a yellow card on 16 minutes.
The Sharks made the most of this lead three minutes later when they moved the deflected ball for winger Marnus Potgieter to score.
Inexplicably, the Sharks opted to play a fast and loose game which handed the lead back to the hosts, who scored an excellent team try through hooker Adam McBurney in the 28th minute.
The momentum was with the hosts, who then dictated the proceedings, and from a 50:22 score by fullback Henry Immelman heading for the Bulls, McBurney crossed over a rolling maul in the 36th minute.
The scores were leveled when Charlie Savala converted both tries, but the home side pulled off a coast-to-coast gem through Immelman three minutes later.
It was a spectacular turnaround from the hosts and their half-time lead was deserved, but they were unable to break through the Sharks much-improved defense for most of the second half.
The visitors reduced the gap to three points through a Curwin Bosch penalty in the 43rd minute, and withstood everything the hosts threw at them.
They also picked and chose their moments to keep the game tight and when they did, they made things difficult for the hosts.
They eventually scored in the 61st minute with a rolling maul through hooker Kerron van Vuuren, but five minutes later, they awarded a yellow card when Carlu Sadie was sent off for an illegal cleanup.
Before Sadie received the yellow card, the Sharks should have scored, but replacement prop Ntuthuko Mchunu had white line fever and missed Hyron Andrews on the outside.
The Sharks weathered the late storm, including three late penalties and two rolling mauls, to avenge last year’s disappointing home loss.
Goalscorers:
Edinburgh: (19) 19
Attempts: Adam McBurney (2), Henry Immelman
Conversions: Charlie Savala (2)
Sharks: (14) 22
Attempts: Grant Williams, Marnus Potgieter, Kerron van Vuuren
Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2)
Penalty: Bosco
