‘He’s an Energizer bunny’: Sharks coach hails four-try hero Mavesere
REACTION: Flanker Tino Mavesere stole the show with four tries as the Sharks kept their Currie Cup semifinal hopes alive with a thrilling 53-22 bonus-point win over the Bulls XV at Kings Park on Friday night.
The victory lifted the Sharks into fourth place in the standings after the final round of the league phase, although their playoff fate still depended on the remaining weekend fixtures.
Sharks coach Mike Vowles said the team had achieved its primary objective by giving themselves a chance to qualify.
“It was about giving ourselves an opportunity in the competition, and we also wanted to honour the opportunity of playing at Kings Park,” Vowles said.
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#REPORT: Mavesere scores four as Sharks hammer Bulls 👇#Sharks #Bulls #CurrieCup #SHAvBUL https://t.co/AoDcRVm69s
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“We ticked the boxes on both fronts. We’ve done what we can and it’s now in somebody else’s hands, but I’m proud that we’ve got that opportunity now.”
Vowles praised the character his side has shown throughout the campaign.
“Rugby is so tough; if you don’t have a group that fights for one another, you’ll always come short.
“The one thing we consistently showed was fight and effort, which speaks volumes about the synergy and culture that the leadership and coaching group have built.
“Hopefully we can take that through to a semifinal.”
The Sharks coach insisted the team’s focus was never on chasing a bonus point.
“We actually didn’t speak about the result or bonus points.
“We tried to keep our focus on our performance and the things we could control. We spoke about winning first, and whatever happened after that was a bonus.”
Vowles reserved special praise for Mavesere after the Zimbabwean loose forward’s outstanding display.
“Tino is just an Energizer bunny. He just doesn’t stop.
“He’s got the speed that most backs have, and he’s so powerful with ball in hand.
“Most importantly, he’s an exceptional human being. He always puts the team first, so all credit to him.”
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