By Lucky Maree
No doubt, the Pumas know today would be their real test.
It’s a feature of the Currie Cup, that the major teams have to play their B teams when their senior sides are playing in the United Rugby Championship or even the Heineken Cup.
The Sharks’ exit from the URC last week, has left their top players available for URC selection. In addition, the Sharks really didn’t have a glorious campaign in the URC and their last match resulted in a 35-5 thrashing by Leinster. Any first division rugby player would lie awake at night thinking of ways to recover some dignity.
Jimmy Stonehouse and his Pumas players, will be aware of all that. But there is only one thing for them to do. They must play their winning brand of rugby and do it at full speed. A win today for the Stonehouse Express will be one for the record books.
The game starts well for the Sharks with a try for James Venter in the first minute. Is the pattern set for the rest of the match? The one thing the Pumas won’t do, is give up.
Their three penalties in the next 20 minutes to give them a 9-5 lead doesn’t tell the full story. The Pumas are in charge.
At 28 minutes the complexion of the match changes entirely when referee Christopher Allison red cards Njabulo Gumede. It will be a 15 vs 14 contest for the next 50 minutes.
The Sharks seem to be spurred on by the unequal contest. They launch attack after attack on the Pumas line. But, the Pumas take display a hardcore “we will never surrender” attitude.
Sadly however, for once Tinus de Beer’s kicking foot has abandoned him. He misses two penalties that may very possibly have won the match for them.
As the halftime whistle goes, the score is still 9-5 to the Pumas.
You have to wonder what has happened to the once noble Sharks team.
Playing with a numerical advantage and all the motivation of still winning at least one trophy, they never look like scoring. They have one try that they scored in the first minute of the match and that’s it.
In the meantime Tinus de Beer has scored a drop goal and a penalty. The Sharks trail by ten points.
With 15 minute to go the Sharks go for the brutal option. They attack the Pumas with the endless maul. Surely, the Pumas will have to concede sooner or later. Or will they?
One of the many problems with cards is they breed more cards. When the Pumas lose Shane Kirkwood to a yellow card, the Sharks, facing 13 players, score a maul try awarded to Daniel Jooste.
With ten minutes to go the Pumas have a slender five point lead. They are clearly out on their feet but they are not yet ready to throw in the towel.
Can they hold on? You bet! Replacement scrumhalf Giovanne Snyman takes a tap kick and runs through the Sharks forwards to score. The Pumas extend their lead to 12 points.
With five minutes to go the Sharks show some real intent and Dylan Richardson scores a well-worked long range try.
The Sharks are five points behind. A converted try will win it for them.
A minute after full time, they again put together a solid attack. Dian Bleuler’s try levels the score and young Nevaldo Fleurs shows a lot of maturity to convert. It was certainly not a fair fight, but still, the Sharks have scored a victory they can be proud of.
Pumas (1 try) 22-24 (4 tries) Sharks
Pictured above: Sharks
Image source: Sharks Twitter
