Sharks hold firm for win
Curwin Bosch scored a late try to seal a 26-7 victory for the Coastal Sharks over the Auckland Blues in Durban on Saturday as they maintained a perfect start to the season.
A second straight bonuspoint win put them top of the overall table.
Springbok utility back Bosch intercepted a Blues pass and darted from his own half to touch down between the posts and flyhalf Robert du Preez kicked his third conversion of the match.
Fullback Aphelele Fassi, hooker Armand van der Merwe and Du Preez scored firsthalf tries as the dominant Sharks established a 19-0 halftime advantage at the Kings Park stadium.
However, the Blues were a much improved side in the second half, only to be denied a try on 55 minutes when the television match official spotted obstruction by flanker Dalton Papalii.
But the New Zealanders were deservedly rewarded soon after when a long skip pass from flyhalf Otere Black sent replacement back Tanielu Tele’a over in the corner.
Black converted from the touchline to leave 12 points between the teams and Sharks supporters must have feared that the home team could be overtaken.
Those concerns were heightened 12 minutes from time when Sharks lock Ruan Botha was yellow-card for a cynical maul infringement.
However, the Sharks held firm with 14 men until out-offavour Springbok Bosch put the outcome beyond doubt.