Sharks miss out on bonus point in win over Jaguares

A strong first half showing from the Durban outfit provided the impetus for a hard-fought victory, despite a resurgent second 40 minutes from the visitors.

Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch scored 13 points and produced a tactical kicking masterclass that gave his side a number of attacking chances from contestable kicks.  

The Sharks got the scoreboard ticking in the fifth minute of the game from a testing contestable up and under launched by flyhalf Curwin Bosch. Sbu Nkosi managed to slap the ball back in the air before his forwards carried and recycled the ball at the resulting ruck.

The ball was then shifted quickly through the hands, with Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen showing great skill to flick the final pass to Hyron Andrews. The lanky lock then cantered into the 22, before selling a dummy that opened a gap to the try line. Bosch couldn’t convert the try, leaving the Sharks with a 5-nil lead.

After the restart, the Sharks managed to break away into the Jaguares half as Tyler Paul scooped up a loose ball. The ball went to Bosch, who put in a pin-point crosskick for left wing Makazole Mapimpi. The World Cup winner beat the Jaguares cross-cover defenders and scored, but the TMO brought play back for an original knock-on by Paul.

From the resulting scrum, the Jaguares tried to attack wide but inside centre Jeronimo de la Fuente was tackled behind the advantage line by Lukhanyo Am. The Sharks forced a penalty at the ruck and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder took a quick tap.

Schreuder found support in number 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who stepped past a tackler and streaked away to score the Sharks second try. Bosch made no mistake with his second shot at goal of the afternoon, giving the Durban outfit a 12-0 lead.

The Jaguares then hit back with their first try of the match after working their way into the Sharks 22. After a long advantage, a cross-kick from Joaquin Bonilla found Santiago Carreras in space and the right wing dotted the ball down in the right hand corner for an unconverted try. 

Bosch then increased the Sharks lead from a long-range penalty just inside the Jaguares half after a penalty from a driving maul. The successful shot left the Sharks 15-5 up.

Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi then sparked his side’s third try with a fantastic step and line break from inside his own half. The fullback then chipped his opposite number and regathered the ball before he was brought down ten metres short of the try line.

The ball was taken through another phase before Schreuder fired a long pass out that found its way to Esterhuizen on the right wing. The Springbok centre powered his way over the line to score, before Bosch converted to make it 22-5.

The visitors made their way back into the Sharks half and kicked for the corner to setup a lineout. The Jaguares pack nearly rumbled over the line from the driving maul but the Sharks defence held them out.

The visitors then built a number of phases with charges around the rucks. After being driven back a few metres, the ball was shifted out to the backline and fullback Joaquin Tuculet broke through the midfield to score underneath the posts. The quickly taken conversion reduced the Sharks lead to 22-12.

The Sharks had an early opportunity to extend their lead in the second half after the Jaguares were caught offsides. Bosch stepped up and slotted his third penalty of the afternoon to give his side a 25-12 lead.

Discipline cost the visitors again a few minutes later as they copped another penalty on defence. Bosch cooly slotted the penalty to extend his side’s lead to 28-12.

Tuculet then conceded another penalty for not releasing the ball after he was tackled. The Sharks kicked for the corner and setup a powerful driving maul that carried hooker Kerron van Vuuren over the line for their bonus point try. Bosch couldn’t convert from the touchline leaving his side with a 33-12 lead.

The Jaguares then had a try disallowed with less than 10 minutes to play. The visitors had made a break from inside their own half but a forward pass meant Tuculet’s second try of the match was disallowed. Fassi was given a yellow card in the same movement for a shoulder charge.

The overlap eventually cost the Sharks as the Jaguares continued their assault from a lineout. Carreras eventually got over the line for his second try of the match from a wide ranging attack. Domingo Miotti slotted the conversion to reduce the Sharks lead to 33-19.

The Sharks managed to hold out for the remainder of the match to wrap up a 33-19 win over the Jaguares.