The Sharks XV beat Western Province in a Vodacom Cup quarter final match at Newlands on Saturday to proceed to the semi finals to take on Pampas XV next weekend. The teams each scored two tries and the difference was in the boot of Jacques-Louis Potgieter, who managed to convert one of the two tries and three penalties.
Western Province, who were unbeaten going into the game, were on attack early in the game and the Sharks XV’s defence was tested, and came through the onslaught with flying colours, clearing the ball after a turnover was forced.
After some initial problems getting the scrums working, the Sharks exuded their dominance and put pressure on the WP set piece. As you would expect with Anton Bresler and Gerhard Mostert, the Sharks lineouts went like clockwork.
The Sharks were first on the scoreboard with a try in the 14th minute by Mark Richards, who managed to get past two defenders and get over in the corner. The try was set up by some brilliant interplay in midfield where Mostert got himself involved. Potgieter missed the touchline conversion attempt.
Western Province, through JJ Engelbrecht, hit back almost immediately with an unconverted try, which was created off turnover ball and WP counter attacked and caught the Sharks off guard. Moments later they snuffed a try as they knocked on with an open goal line.
Penalties were exchanged by first Potgieter and then Catrikilis, as the flyhalf scored his first points in a WP shirt after his amazing Varsity Cup season, to push the score to eight all.
The Sharks scored their second try just before half time when Marcell Coetzee brilliantly broke off the back of a scrum, ran 30m before a brilliant offload in the tackle to Cobus Reinach gave the scrumhalf an easy dive over the line. Potgieter brilliantly converted from the touchline to secure a lead of seven points at half time.
Western Province came out with a new front row to start the second half, in an attempt to take the advantage away from the Sharks pack that was dominating. Potgieter scored the first points of the half with a penalty to take a ten point lead, and a wait of fifteen minutes before WP could hit back with a penalty of their own, keeping that seven point gap.
Catrikilis reduced the WP deficit to four points with 17 minutes to play, only for Potgieter to strike back and with 12 minutes to play, WP had to score twice to win the match. They managed to score in the 77th minute through a try by Danie Poolman, but the conversion attempt by Catrikilis was wide and the two point margin is where it stayed until the final whistle.
The Sharks XV defence was amazing, keeping a potent WP backline at bay, and their competitiveness at the ruck and ability to win turnovers starved WP of scoring opportunities. Marcell Coetzee was immense at the back of the scrum, and Burden was all over the park putting in big tackles. It will be interesting to see who plays at flyhalf in the semi final as Potgieter will be ineligible, and most likely it will be Guy Cronje taking over the pivot role.
the sharks have a bye the weekend of the final, wonder if they will spare a player ot two… if we make it that is
Thanks Rich – a big ray of light for Sharks fans. The XV are a team high on team spirit and guts
how many games do u have 2 play be eligible?
i need to go to sleep its 3.44am here in america chech ya later
If a player has played 4 or more games for the Super Rugby team, he is ineligible to play in the semi finals..
and a game can constitute a single second on the park?
Fantastic performance by the Sharks XV. If you look at the territory and possession stats they shouldn’t have been in the game. Guts and determination. Mark Richards and Marcel Coetzee were immense!
@RuckingFun (Comment 6) : Yes. JLP is ineligible for the semi and final if we make it that far for example.
@RuckingFun (Comment 6) :
Correct..
As far as I know you have to have played a few pool games as well to play in the semi’s..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) : Dude, I think I lost you on Skype.
@war1 (Comment 10) :
Seems so..
Time for you to get a Blackberry dude..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 11) : Yep
Some welcome news this. Mark Richards and Marcell Coetzee continue to play great rugby.
@Big Fish (Comment 13) :
They were both real match winners!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) :
I must admit that I felt that Richards would hit his ceiling early due to his stature, but so far he has punched way above his weight. Great to see.
@Big Fish (Comment 15) :
He has now scored 5 tries in 5 matches..
Nice little record that..
Congrats with your victory!!
@wpw (Comment 17) : Congrats with yours!!!
Would like to see mark richards get gametime in sr.
Perhaps time to bring marcell coetzee back into sr squad?
How did cobus reinach play?
Gerhard mostert a must for sharks sr team-def starter!
Deysel,alberts(though he needs some rest),bissie,mostert a must for the pack.
Need to start investing gametime into marcell coetzee.
Marcell Coetzee is going to be huge! That guy has got a lot of talent!
Hope the sharks start giving him the exposure to start maturing into the player he can be.
How did johann sadie play?
Where is semi vs pampas taking place?what time?hope it is in durban.
@bergshark (Comment 25) : He looked very dangerous.
how did adonga play?
@bergshark (Comment 26) : Nah, it will be Potch. We only finished 3rd in our section.
@bergshark (Comment 28) : How many questions are you going to ask?
Lambert Groenewald had a cut which opened up at least 4 times and Adongo replaced him all those times and then he came on permanently with about 10mins left I think.
@war1: haha ask plenty questions,hope to get good answers
Hope sharks vc team can beat the pampas,will be great!
Glad to see wiehahn herbst was playing.
@war1: beet will be glad to hear that!he has been saying sharks should sign johann sadie for a very long time now(as I think you will have read also).
Actually,glad to read wiehahn herbst wasplaying,since I never got to see the game.
Am I the only one on here??reminds me of the lines in a shakespeare’s sister song.. “Hello,hello,is there anyone out there,help me sing my song?”..
My old classmate Sean Everitt is doing wonders with these boys.
@Predawn (Comment 37) : He became a school teacher and coach and you became?
A belated congratulations to the Sharks XV for the good win against WP. To make it sweeter Province actually played very well with the exception of their starting LH and fullback who was in a dwaal most of the time. Well done and good luck against the Argentines.
@bergshark (Comment 25) : Sadie was on fire. He was well marked but his class still shone thru. His passing game was at another level. Too good. Kolisa was also very impressive & Bosch too.
Had this one horrorbly wrong. Congrats to your lot.
Think Dobson started with the wrong fatties and Whitehead should have started with the Greek iso Bosch.
@PaarlBok (Comment 41) : Sharks XV defense was great. WP was a bit shell shocked by the physicality of the Sharks XV…….just like the Sharks were surprised by the physicality of the Stormers
@PaarlBok (Comment 41) : What is up with Whitehead though? Do they not rate him anymore?
@war1 (Comment 43) : Dunno Dobson coached the Ikeys, so dunno why he did not picked him from the start. The Greek making his debut would have combined much better with him. The Stormers have such midfield depth these days, Stokkies Hanekom playing for Griquas the example.
@PaarlBok (Comment 44) : You wanna give us Whitehead and Sadie?
Sadie looks a very very good prospect.
war1
We’ll give you Paul Bosch anytime!
Send young Sithole our way as a swap deal.
@war1 (Comment 45) : I`m done begging them for Whitehead. He wasn`t interested.
Maybe we should broaden our horizons . . .
If only we could afford Brad Barrit.
Knowing our purchasing department they`ll probably settle on Edrich Lubbe though!
@war1 (Comment 45) : Yep Sadie have class since a 7 byear old.
Marius Joubert coming your way to reunite with Bosman.