The Sharks under 21 side appears to be finding form at just the right stage of the season and while some unfortunate early losses seem to have ruled them our of home semi-final contention, they will nevertheless feel positive, having beaten their likely quarter-final opposition this weekend.
A hard-fought 23-17 win over Western Province at Kings Park this weekend unfortunately didn’t do enough to chip away at the massive gulf that sees Province still enjoy a 6-point lead on the log, even after the loss. Having moved back into third, though, after the Lions temporarily grabbed that spot be beating the Cheetahs, the Sharks should probably be able to hold onto that position and go on to play Province again in the knock-outs, knowing full-well they have the recipe to beat their fancied rivals.
While Sean Everitt’s team still have to negotiate a tough trip to Leopards country, where the hosts are always very competitive at junior level, the game in Johannesburg between the Lions and Province will generate the most interest. With the Sharks most unlikely to overtake Province, given that the latter side faces the easy-beat Valke in their closing fixture, it would be better for the Lions to lose on Saturday, thus giving the Sharks some breathing room in third place. If the Lions should win, then the final round-robin match in Durban becomes a play-off between them and the Sharks to decide who will face the Bulls in Pretoria – a certain route to instant elimination – and who will take on the weakened Province in Cape Town.
The Sharks under 19s, meanwhile. have nothing other than pride to play for in their last two games, with the semis now out of the picture for them. That said, Ryan Strudwick’s team recorded a morale-boosting win over Province this weekend as well and will be determined to collect the scalps of the Leopards and Lions as well in their remaining fixtures.
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Does anybody have the log?
@Mutley (Comment 1) :
TEAM P W PTS
Division A
Blue Bulls 11 9 43
Western Province 10 8 40
Sharks 10 7 34
Lions 10 6 32
Leopards 10 4 18
Free State 11 2 16
Valke 10 0 1
@robdylan (Comment 2) : sorry – not so well formatted
@robdylan (Comment 3) : under 19 log?
Do you think Plumtree would be so mean and start selecting from the u/21’s now? 😐
I think that at semi-final stage any of the 4 teams that will be involved can win on the day. When this group were U19’s in 2009 that is exactly what happened with OFS, who had finished 4th, beating WP at Newlands and the Lions beating the Bulls in the other semi at Loftus.
The Bulls are looking strong but they are certainly not unbeatable as OFS showed in bloem a few weeks ago.
@ Robdylan
Thanks
@steve (Comment 6) : At this stage I think there are 3 u21 team that are praying that the WP senior team makes it to the Currie Cup semis.
Our guys got a very good win tho. Unfortunately it seems like 3rd place is as good as it will get.
Just like last season, we will probably have to look back at a crucial home defeat to the Bulls as the game that ultimately cost us a home semi.
If we can keep all this year’s u20 players in the team for next year we’ll have very few excuses not to finish in the top 2.
what time is the U19 and U21 games? Also taking place at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg?
@Ben (Comment 10) : The games are at the Royal Bafokeng but the times seem messed up.
I think it will be
u19 – 12h00
u21 – 13h45
Seniors – 16h00
but I might be wrong
@beet (Comment 11) : SuperSport has it as Sat 08 Oct main game at 19:10. I though we we were playing on Friday?
@Ben (Comment 12) : I looked at Sharksr***y???
@Ben (Comment 12) : they moved the game to saturday. No clue why
@beet (Comment 8) : The only U21’s that I can see in their senior squad are the looseforwards Carr and Kolisi, Schreuder at SH, and Berton klaasen at centre. Not sure what has happened to kitshoff – is he injured.
IMO Kolisi is the one who would make a difference but I think he will stay up even if the Boks are back.
@steve (Comment 15) : Kitshoff is injured, yes… out for the season
@robdylan (Comment 14) :
Correct, game moved to Saturday night, late game..