Aphelele Fassi kicked three penalty goals as the Sharks ground out a Vodacom URC victory against Scarlets at Kings Park on Saturday.
The 12-3 win moved the Sharks into third place on the log above Glasgow to set up a quarter-final against Munster in Durban.
Coach John Plumtree’s team came into their last league-stage fixture of the season seeking a complete performance only to produce one of their worst.
A tight, error-ridden first half seemed destined to be scoreless before Sharks flyhalf Siya Masuku’s 39th-minute penalty was followed by Scarlets No 10 Sam Costelow’s drop goal.
Masuku cried off with a hamstring injury in the third quarter and Plumtree moved Fassi to flyhalf, with Yaw Penxe coming on at fullback. Shortly after, Fassi slotted a long-range penalty goal to regain the lead.
Aphelele Fassi at #10 for Springbok season? ?
? Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/I1qIDBKvRa
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 17, 2025
Fassi kicked another two penalties, in the 69th and 80th minutes, before the final whistle mercifully ended the game.
Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
