Western Province fought back bravely but the Sharks XV were too strong in Cape Town, clinching their Currie Cup coastal derby 31-23 to end the home side’s chances of reaching the knock-outs.
The visitors scored four converted tries for the bonus point and a late drop goal by veteran flyhalf Lionel Cronje, who scored 11 points, took a solitary point away from Province, who will be licking their wounds after another case of close but yet so far for their youngsters.
In a game of two halves, the story of their season, WP only really pitched up in the second half, with the Sharks dominating the territory and possession in the first to build a healthy 21-10 lead by half-time.
Two of the Sharks’ three tries in the first forty came in the final 10 minutes, when they caught the Province defence fast asleep.
The first one, by outside centre Jurenzo Julius, was as soft as they come. He slipped through a gap easily after receiving the ball from a teammate, with no WP defender in sight after their rush defence failed to stop the attack.
Four minutes later, Nick Hatton burst over from close range and that try, a couple of minutes before the half ended, brought all the momentum to the visitors. And if you slip 11 tackles in 40 minutes, like the home side did, the half does not belong to you.
It helped, though, that an opportunistic score right at the end of the half put WP into double figures
The lineout problems that plagued the home team in the first half, found their way into their set piece in the second half as well, but that was partially also thanks to the jumping expertise of another Sharks veteran, lock Reniel Hugo, who made sure he competed and spoilt plenty of throw-ins from WP hooker Scarra Ntubeni.
The lost balls from the lineout cost Province plenty of attacking opportunities in a good position, although their scrum functioned like a well-oiled machine, which would bring a smile to the face of forwards coach Rito Hlungwani.
Thanks to the hard work up front though by Sharks’ flanker Tino Mavesere, Hugo, Hatton and hooker Dan Jooste, and the game management of Cronje and young scrumhalf Bradley Davids, the Sharks spent most of the game on the front foot.
The five points from their trip down the coast keep them in the running for a play-off place, and one more win could seal the deal as they look to progress further in the tournament.
Points scorers:
Western Province 23 (10): Tries: Kyle Smith, Vernon Matongo. Conversions: Jurie Matthee (2). Penalties: Matthee (3). Sharks XV 31 (21): Tries: Tino Mavesere, Jurenzo Julius, Nick Hatton, Eduan Keyter. Conversions: Lionel Cronje (4). Drop goal: Cronje.