RACING • SPORTMATTERS • SOCCER 25, 26 & 27 Sharks make it count
Handling errors mar improved performance, but encouraging signs to build on
Sharks .................................................. (20) 37 Force ...................................................... (7) 12
THE scoreboard suggested a hammering of the Force, but this was a performance by the Sharks that was too erratic to have their coaching staff high-fiving each other in the change-room.
It was a strange kind of game. There were moments of magic such as the Curwin Bosch try that involved some incredible footballing skills by youngsters Sbu Nkosi and Jeremy Ward and scintillating pace by the flyhalf; and the forwards dominated nicely, but then there were too many handling errors that undid good phase play.
Look, this was one heck of a step up from the previous home game – not that it would have taken much to improve on the Rebels fiasco – but the players would have hoped to produce a more polished performance, not to mention the bonus point try.
In short, there was the good the bad and the ugly in this game, but more than enough to build on and the Sharks will be in the right frame of mind for this week’s visit to the Kings, who will be revving themselves up for this one having nearly won in Durban not that long ago.
Bosch had another good game at flyhalf and when he went off in the 57th minute the strong applause from the crowd was as much for him – he now joins the Junior Boks for the next six weeks – as it was for the return from injury of Patrick Lambie.
The latter came through his comeback unscathed and let’s hope the Rugby Gods smile favourably on the unlucky 25-year-old for a change as he sets about rebuilding his career.
Bosch kicked two early penalties, both because Durbanraised Force flank Brynard Stander did not roll away in the tackle. Stander, a former pupil at Westville Boys’ High, was otherwise a stand out player for the Perth side, which is coached by South African Dave Wessels.
Wing Sbu Nkosi, who took a head knock in his first touch of the ball and left the field just five minutes into his debut, came back on after a concussion test, and then finished off a fine team build-up only for the try to be disallowed because of a knock-on some phases before he got the ball.
The Force then promptly scored a lovely try from a set move from a scrum, with right wing James Verity-amm dotting down to complete what was effectively a 14-point turnaround. The Sharks might have been wondering if it was going to be “one of those days” when No 8 Daniel du Preez crashed over from a line-out but the try was disallowed because of obstruction.
The Sharks eventually scored a legitimate try just before half time when continued pressure in the Force’s 22 culminated in a yellow card for continued infringements, with centre Curtis Rona the player binned, and the resulting hole in the defence line was exploited by Sharks centre Jeremy Ward, who finished neatly.
But the Sharks were not finished for the half and as the clock hit 40 minutes, flanker Jean-luc du Preez scored to give the Sharks a 20-7 lead.
Bosch struck his third penalty but from 23-7 up it was now about scoring tries for the Sharks. And their third was nothing short of brilliant. First Nkosi nudged the ball up the touchline from his 22, then Ward give it another stab towards the tryline and the fleet-footed Bosch turned on the gas to outstrip the defence, gather and score. He converted his try and that was his lot for the afternoon, with Lambie coming on at 10 after eight weeks of injury.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Force fullback Marcel Brache scored in the corner, which meant the Sharks needed two more tries to get the bonus point. One of them came when Lukhanyo Am intercepted on the Force 22 but the bonuspoint try would elude them.
SCORERS Sharks: Tries: Jeremy Ward, Jean-luc du Preez, Curwin Bosch, Lukhanyo Am. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (3), Patrick Lambie. Penalties: Bosch (3) Force: Tries: James Verity-amm, Marcel Brache. Conversions: Jono Lance