Moriarty injured on an another miserable night for Dragons

SHARKS ............................... 51 DRAGONS ............................. 3

THE Dragons were thrashed by the Sharks in Durban as they conceded three yellow cards and lost Ross Moriarty to a serious injury.

The Welsh side showed up well in the opening quarter. The welcome return of Will Rowlands and Moriarty was having the desired effect, with the latter showing up particularly well and relishing the physicality.

Curwin Bosch kicked the first of his penalties, though, inside the first 10 minutes when Ben Fry was penalised for a neck roll at a breakdown in his own half.

Captain Harri Keddie started showing up well physically too, but he couldn’t stop the Sharks doubling their lead minutes later. The Dragons scrum was getting absolutely steamrolled early doors and it resulted in Bosch adding another three points.

The Welsh side struggled to impose themselves with the ball, but they made yards when Josh Lewis, on his 50th appearance for the Dragons, regathered his own kick. The field position resulted in the Sharks going offside and Lewis himself knocked the kick over.

Midway through the half, though, Bosch added another penalty before the evening turned sour for the visitors.

Moriarty suffered what appeared to be a serious left knee injury after getting in an awkward position whilst tackling Phepsi Buthelezi. When the game restarted, the Sharks scored almost immediately.

Big carries from some big men made serious dents in the Dragons’ 22 and it was Springbok prop Ox Nche who powered through four defenders from close range to score under the sticks.

And the Sharks’ power came to the fore again five minutes before the break when a powerful driving maul inevitably crossed the line and another Springbok, Bongi Mbonambi, was the man who scored it.

Two conversions from Bosch meant it was 23-3 at half time.

The hosts were piling on the pressure after the break. From inside his own half, Sharks winger Werner Kok shrugged off Jordan Olowofela too easily before stepping inside covering forwards and speeding away to score a stunning try, though the Dragons should have done better. Bosch added the two points and the lead stretched.

As the game approached the hour mark, Jordan Williams tried to produce some magic, but his chip was charged down. Marius Louw stormed towards the line and Dragons pivot Lewis knocked down what referee Ben Blain deemed would have been a scoring pass to Ben Tapuai. As such, a penalty try was awarded and a yellow card shown to rub salt in the wounds.

To make matters worse, another one soon followed. Lovely hands from Tapuai released Makazole Mapimpi, who was dragged down before Mbonambi took play to within a metre. Siya Kolisi had the tryline at his mercy, but Lewis Jones slapped the pass down. Another penalty try and another yellow card.

Anthony Volmink added another score, making the most of the numerical advantage before Fry received a late yellow card for a no-arms tackle.

It capped a miserable fortnight in South Africa for the region.

Sharks: Tries: Nche, Mbonambi, Kok, Penalty Try (2), Volmink. Cons: Bosch (4), Pens: Bosch (3).

Dragons: Pen: Lewis.