VIDEO: Bosch boots Sharks to victory over Cheetahs
SUPER RUGBY UNLOCKED REPORT: The Sharks moved up to second in the Super Rugby Unlocked standings after they edged the Cheetahs 19-13 in their Round Five encounter in Durban on Friday.
It was a match plagued with errors with only two tries scored in the 80 minutes.
Curwin Bosch’s boot proved to be the difference in the game as he contributed 14 points to the tally. He was also the creator of the Sharks’ late and crucial try with a neat cross-kick.
The Cheetahs are now in third place in the standings, one point behind the Sharks.
It was a scrappy start to the game with both teams guilty of losing the ball on attack on several occasions
Both teams also refused early kickable penalties with attacking line-outs being the preferred option in the opening quarter.
The first points of the game finally came in the 34th when Bosch converted a penalty into three points.
The Cheetahs had the chance to get level on the scoreboard in the 36th minute. However, Tian Schoeman could not find the direction with his penalty kick.
The visitors were also guilty of butchering a try-scoring opportunity when Rosko Specman failed to catch the ball from a pass with no defenders in front of him.
Things got worse for the Cheetahs just before the break when Carl Wegner was yellow-carded for repeated infringements.
Bosch converted the penalty and at half-time, the Sharks were 6-0 in front.
The Cheetahs opened the scoring in the second half with Schoeman putting three points on the board with a penalty in the 49th minute.
The Sharks thought they scored the first try of the game in the 52nd minute when a loose ball from a kick was gathered by Sharks captain Henco Venter before spreading it wide to Jeremy Ward who ran easily to the tryline.
However, the TMO ruled that a Cheetahs player attempting to catch the ball from a kick in the build-up was obstructed.
The home side had to make do with another three points in the 58th minute after Bosch found the direction and distance with a monster kick.
The Cheetahs came within three points of the Sharks after Schoeman was successful with his penalty kick in the 67th minute.
With less than 10 minutes left on the clock, the Cheetahs went in front for the first time in the game when Tian Schoeman put William Small-Smith through a gap with a neat pass with the centre running in for a try.
Schoeman was successful with the conversion.
The Cheetahs were then reduced to 14 men again in the 74th minute after Rosko Specman was given a yellow card for a deliberate knock down.
The Sharks took full advantage of their extra man when Madosh Tambwe collected the ball from a cross-kick from Bosch before going over for a crucial try. Bosch added the extra two points with the conversion.
Bosch sealed the victory with a penalty after the full-time hooter sounded.
Man of the match: Curwin Bosch deserves the award. He kept the scoreboard ticking over with his boot and he created Madosh Tambwe’s late try with a pin-point cross-kick.
The scorers:
For Sharks:
Try: Tambwe
Con: Bosch
Pens: Bosch 4
For Cheetahs:
Try: Small-Smith
Con: Schoeman
Pens: Schoeman 2
Yellow cards: Carl Wegner (Cheetahs, 40 – repeated infringements); Rosko Specman (Cheetahs, 74 – deliberate knock down)
Teams
Sharks: 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi, 7 Henco Venter (captain), 6 Dylan Richardson 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 John Hubert-Meyer, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Cameron Wright, 23 Madosh Tambwe.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Junior Pokomela (captain), 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Teboho Mohoje, 20 Jeandré Rudolph, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Howard Mnisi.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Paul Mente
TMO: Marius Jonker
