Sharks Grit Out Big Win Over Stormers

The sun dimmed on the Stormers’ unbeaten record as the Cape side succumbed to a determined Sharks outfit who deservedly won by 30-19 despite an electric atmosphere in front of a capacity 52,087 Cape Town crowd at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

The defeat brings an end to the Stormers’ eight-game unbeaten streak in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship as they suffered two defeats in the last three weeks in all competitions. 

The Stormers paid the price for a sloppy performance littered with errors in all facets of the game and were outdone by their more efficient opponents. 

In a frantic, highly charged and paced first half packed with action, both sides put on a display of attacking rugby that was worth the admission fee alone. 

In what can be defined as a slow start by the home side, the Sharks scored two tries either side of a Stormers five-pointer, which saw the Durban side start like they had something to prove.

The Stormers found themselves on the backfoot from kick-off as a determined Sharks occupied the Stormers’ 22 and were rewarded with a fifth-minute Jason Jenkins try after a successful maul. Jordan Hendrikse slotted an exceptional conversion from an acute angle.

From the ensuing kick-off, the Stormers wasted no time in retrieving the ball, thanks largely to Leolin Zas – as the decibel rating went up a few notches with Damian Willemse crossing the whitewash to an earth-pounding ovation. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed the follow-up kick.

The game continued its all-action start as the Sharks exercised play through the phases before a brilliant pinpoint Jordan Hendrikse cross-kick found Jaco Williams – again, Hendrikse made no mistake with the conversion as the Sharks found themselves in an early 14-5 lead.

In the 17th minute, the Sharks increased the lead to 17-5 as Hendrikse continued his 100% kicking record thanks to a penalty. 

The Stormers were knocking on the door as a Leolin Zas breakaway and a 40 metre Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty went astray, but shortly afterwards, on the 27th minute, some quick thinking by the Stormers captain took advantage of space in the Sharks’ defence before offloading to Willemse for his second try of the night.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted his first successful kick to reduce the deficit to five points, 17-12 in favour of the Durban team.

The Stormers grew into the half and dominated territory, but simply couldn’t add to their tally despite some wonderful opportunities.

HALF-TIME: STORMERS 12-17 SHARKS

The second half started in a similar vein with the Sharks putting pressure on the Stormers’ try line, and in the 47th minute, Salmaan Moerat – coming on for Connor Evans – was given a yellow card and sent to the sin-bin.

Mere moments later, the Sharks’ pressure was rewarded as Phepsi Buthelezi scored with surprising ease from another maul – the Achilles for the Stormers defence on the night – to further extend the lead.

Fortunately for the Stormers, Hendrikse missed the conversion; however, the Sharks found themselves in the ascendancy, leading 22-12.

In the 50th minute, the Stormers lost an attacking lineout on the five metre line, and the Sharks’ breakaway was so sharp that they found themselves on the Stormers’ try line within seconds for what would have been a sensational counter-attacking try. 

With lots of tension but much less scoring action in the second stanza, a 68th-minute Hendrikse penalty further extended the Sharks’ lead by 13, for a 25-12 lead.

The Stormers’ discipline let them down again as Sazi Sande made a tackle attempt on Andre Esterhuizen while in the air and was the second Stormers player sent to the sin-bin.

The Sharks put the final nail in the Stormers’ coffin as Andre Esterhuizen scored following a tremendous leg drive in the offensive maul. Hendrikse missed the conversion, but by this point, it was elementary.

The Stormers got a consolation in the 78th minute, winning a penalty-try, which saw Vincent Tshituka sent to the sin-bin.

The defeat sent the sell-out crowd home dismayed, but one cannot argue that the victory wasn’t deserved by the Sharks.

The two teams meet again in Durban next week.