Rhys Priestland kicked 11 points to steer Cardiff to a narrow victory over the Sharks at home on Saturday.

The hosts came out on top after a tough battle against the South Africans to register a 23-17 victory.

Both sides crossed for two tries each, but Priestland’s accurate boot made all the difference, with the flyhalf knocking over three penalties and a conversion for his all-important 11-point haul.

The narrow defeat ends the South African franchises’ first overseas leg of the campaign and they will return home with a record of four wins, one draw and 11 defeats from 16 matches on tour.

In an impressive opening 40 minutes, tries from Matthew Morgan and Willis Halaholo were enough to inspire Cardiff to a 17-10 lead at the break. 

The Sharks launched a second half comeback with Marnus Potgieter adding to Thomas du Toit’s earlier try but Priestland kept the scoreboard ticking over for Cardiff with his boot.

The Sharks continued to pile the pressure on the hosts, a significant defensive contribution kept them at bay in their hunt for a comeback before Priestland slotted a late penalty to seal victory for Cardiff.