Bumbling Sharks leave it late to beat Dragons
MATCH REPORT: The Sharks recorded their second straight victory on their United Rugby Championship tour with a 20-19 win over the Dragons in a scrappy affair in Newport on Saturday.
The visitors, who started their tour with a 42-37 win over Zebre last weekend, were 6-19 down heading into the final quarter.
However, tries from Grant Williams and Thaakir Abrahams along with Boeta Chamberlain’s conversions got the Sharks over the line.
In the early stages of this contest the Sharks sent the Dragons scrum backwards at a rate of knots which allowed Chamberlain to open the scoring from the kicking tee.
Will Reed got the Dragons level with a successful penalty, and he kicked them ahead after the visitors were penalised for illegally collapsing a maul.
The Dragons turned the tables on the Sharks at the scrum with Ntuthuko Mchunu penalised which allowed Reed to extend the Welsh club’s lead.
Chamberlain and Reed exchanged penalties before the break meaning the Dragons turned around with a 12-6 lead.
The home side turned the screw after the interval and threatened to break clear.
A lovely offload from Rio Dyer sent Angus O’Brien racing through a gap. The former Scarlet found Rhodri Williams, who was unable to find a supporting teammate but the referee was playing advantage which allowed Reed to pump the ball into the Sharks 22.
The home side set themselves well in the resulting maul with Elliot Dee powering over from short range for a try which Reed converted.
The Sharks threw the kitchen sink at the Dragons as they desperately tried to force their way back into the game.
The South African side created opportunities with Phepsi Buthelezi breaking through only to be turned over by Taine Basham.
On another occasion Werner Kok raced 50 metres up field and managed to release Ben Tapuai but the Dragons’ scramble defence kept them at bay.
But, with less than 20 minutes remaining, the Sharks got back in the game when Williams intercepted a loose pass from O’Brien to score.
The visitors then took the lead with just four minutes left, and it proved decisive.
Sikhumbuzo Notshe broke through Reed’s tackle before offloading to Marnus Potgieter who put Abrahams over for the try which Chamberlain, crucially, converted.
Man of the Match
Sharks openside flank Dylan Richardson seemed to be everywhere with his immense work rate and superb ball carrying playing a pivotal role in his side’s victory
Play of the match
The Sharks’ late try which saw Sikhumbuzo Notshe break through a tackle before offloading to Marnus Potgieter who put Thaakir Abrahams over at the corner.
The scorers:
For Dragons:
Try: Dee
Con: Reed
Pens: Reed 4
For Sharks:
Tries: Williams, Abrahams
Cons: Chamberlain 2
Pens: Chamberlain 2
Teams:
Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Ashton Hewitt, 10 Will Reed, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Taine Basham, 6 George Nott, 5 Will Rowlands (captain), 4 Ben Carter, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Roberts, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Joe Davies, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Max Clark, 23 Jordan Williams.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi, 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3Thomas du Toit (captain), 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marnus Potgieter, 23 Anthony Volmink.
Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris (Wales) & Elwyn Morris Roberts (Wales)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Additional source: @URCOfficial
