The Sharks were beaten by Harlequins but bagged a vital bonus point in a nine-try Champions Cup thriller in London on Saturday afternoon.
Heading into this weekend’s clash at Twickenham Stoop unbeaten after three Pool A matches and already through to the last 16 in the competition, the Sharks trailed 24-22 at half time, before eventually going down 39-29.
In a cracker of a game for neutral supporters, Quins outscored the Sharks five tries to four, yet it was the visitors who had the first – and final – say to proceedings, taking an early 5-0 lead and scoring the crucial last five-pointer of the match as the men from Durban looked to secure a home playoff clash.
The Sharks made the perfect start inside the opening two minutes after outside centre Lukhanyo Am finished off a well-worked try started by fullback Aphelele Fassi.
But, touchdowns from Quins scrumhalf Danny Care – in his 350th appearance for the club – and right wing Cadan Murley, to go with a penalty try, helped put the hosts 13 points ahead at the close of the first quarter.
Against the run of play, Sharks scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse soared over in the right corner following a break upfield from No 14 Marnus Potgieter, and the Sharks were back to within two points at the break when lock Eben Etzebeth bookended the first half with a strident score near the posts, having cleverly poached the ball from under Care’s nose at the base of a ruck.
Flyhalves Marcus Smith and Curwin Bosch scored seven points apiece for their teams from the kicking tee inside the first 40 minutes.
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What ? a ? start ?@SharksRugby produce a beautiful flowing move to score the opening try inside two minutes at Twickenham Stoop ?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/6mBf8ozWY2
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 21, 2023
?? @EbenEtzebeth does not fear caterpillars!
He’s disrupted a few in the first half, and now gets his hands on the ball and races to the line.
Incredible poaching from the Springbok ?#HeinekenChampionsCup | @SharksRugby pic.twitter.com/ljhuqpOvT8
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 21, 2023
Former Sharks lock Stephan Lewies struck first for the home side after the interval when he crashed over near the left-corner flag, before fullback Nick David regathered his kick into space behind the defence for Quins’ fifth try in the match.
Smith added the extras, as well as his second penalty of the game, as the hosts did well to withstand a period of relentless pressure from the visitors on attack inside the final 20 minutes.
Potgieter crossed for what would’ve been the fourth try for the Sharks, but the on-field call was overturned on a TMO referral for an infringement by the South Africans in the buildup, yet the impressive Fassi was not to be denied when he stretched over the whitewash out wide for the vital score at the death.
The Sharks will now refocus for a trip to Scotland to face Edinburgh in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at DAM Health Stadium next Saturday, although director of rugby Neil Powell will be sweating the fitness of blindside flanker Vincent Tshituka after he was substituted early due to injury.
Photo: Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images