Sharks snatched victory from Rebels 34-32 – Super Rugby match report
The late tries by Meyer Bosman and number eight Ryan Kankowski snatched the match away from Melbourne Rebels, giving Sharks a 34-32 victory today. The victory has maintained the unbeaten start taken by sharks in the Super 15 season this year.
It was a thrilling clash and it wasn’t predictable till the last minutes that which side will take the glory. The Sharks had to face four tries after resisting a lot, it was the first time in past three matches that the Sharks had conceded a try. Melbourne
Rebels are the newcomers in the tournament, but managed to give a tough competition to the experienced side.
Sharks had to force their way to victory from 25-13 to the final winning score and earned fourth consecutive victory. Danny Cipriani created the major difference for Rebels by scoring a try and booting five goals. Cipriani bagged a total of 17 points alone
for Rebels and the contribution almost got the rebels on the run for a triumph. But the Sharks showed some class in last four minutes and took away the hopes for an upset by winning narrowly.
The game seemed to be in Rebels’ favor when Cipriani scored a solo try, storming through the Sharks’ defense. The try was being considered as the game breaker for the Rebels. The lead went on to 13-3 and the first half ended on a mixed up score of 18-13.
After adding three conversions back to back, Cipriani was able to take Rebels to 25-13. The dominating Rebels’ attack shook the Sharks defense for and the retaliation cost the Rebels a Super Rugby fixture. Rebels were given a setback when their winger Cooper
Vuna got sin binned, but the Rebels kept the aggressive approach on the flow.
The lead was narrowed with the help of a try by winger Lwazi Mvovo, bringing sharks to five point difference in 44th minute. The visiting side got lead in the match for the first time after Kankowski the Springbok back rower scored a try. Sharks were almost
heading out of pressure in the 70th minute.
Patrick Lambie converted the Kanowski’s try and the scores went to 27-25 for Sharks. Six minutes later, the Sharks confirmed their lead when centre Bosman scored a try due to mishandling by rebels defense in the midfield. Lambie was successful in converting
this try too, taking the scores to 34-25.
The time was dying away and Rebels had to restore the lost lead and take the advantage of a deserving effort. The Sharks try gave them the bonus point and saved them from any kind of threat that Rebels could have put in the last minutes.
Rebels did score in the last minute, when Jarrod Saffy scored a try and the scores stood at 34-32. The time went against the home side and the Rebels couldn’t claim the victory which could have been there if the last tries were stopped.
John Smit, the Sharks captain was glad with the way things worked out in the last moments. He said, “We displayed some real grit tonight, perhaps didn't come out of the blocks quick enough but we knew Rebels have some big folks and at some point when they
come jointly as a team I think it's going to be happening for them.”
Stirling Mortlock, the Rebels captain was also content with the performance and believes that the standard set today showed be maintained and a lot has to be done to improve. He said, “We set ourselves a goal of being competitive and I think we can hold
our heads high after that performance tonight.”
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