CHAMPIONS CUP: Sharks kick off European challenge with commanding win
4 months ago
The Sharks kicked off their 2024/2025 Champions Cup campaign with a commanding 39-21 victory over the Exeter Chiefs in Durban on Saturday afternoon, with a brace of tries by Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.
Playing in stifling heat and humidity, the hosts led 26-14 at halftime and maintained their dominance to secure a bonus-point win by outscoring Exeter by five tries to three.
The match began with both teams struggling to capitalize on early opportunities. In the seventh minute, Exeter’s No.8 Greg Fisilau received a yellow card for a head-on collision with Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi. Despite being a man down, they opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a try from hooker Dan Frost.
The home side responded in the 20th minute when Phepsi Buthelezi finished off a well-coordinated attack. Shortly after, Springbok speedster Makazole Mapimpi scored their second try from a counter-attack initiated by Fassi and his Springbok teammate Grant Williams, who added a third try minutes later when he was the beneficiary of on an Ethan Hooker offload.
Exeter’s discipline issues continued as replacement Will Rigg was yellow-carded in the 32nd minute. The Durbanites took full advantage, with Kolisi scoring their fourth try just before the break. However, the English club managed to close the half with a second try from Frost to reduce the halftime deficit to 26-14.
The KwaZulu-Natalians extended their lead to 29-14 early in the second half via a Jordan Hendrikse penalty goal and Hendrikse was also pivotal when he set up Kolisi’s second try in the 54th minute.
However, discipline then became an issue for the hosts in the final quarter, with Eben Etzebeth and Emile van Heerden both receiving yellow cards, reducing them to 13 men. Exeter capitalized with a try from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who collected a cross-kick to score.
The hosts’ disciplinary woes continued as Eduan Keyter was also yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, leaving them with 12 men. Despite the numerical advantage, Exeter failed to secure a fourth try, with Tommy Wyatt losing the ball in the opposing in-goal area.
Scorers:
Sharks 39 (26) – Tries: Phepsi Buthelezi, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams, Siya Kolisi (2). Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (4). Penalty goals: Hendrikse (2).
Exeter Chiefs 21 (14) –Â Tries: Dan Frost (2), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Conversions: Josh Hodge (3).
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CHAMPIONS CUP: Sharks kick off European challenge with commanding win
The Sharks kicked off their 2024/2025 Champions Cup campaign with a commanding 39-21 victory over the Exeter Chiefs in Durban on Saturday afternoon, with a brace of tries by Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.
Playing in stifling heat and humidity, the hosts led 26-14 at halftime and maintained their dominance to secure a bonus-point win by outscoring Exeter by five tries to three.
The match began with both teams struggling to capitalize on early opportunities. In the seventh minute, Exeter’s No.8 Greg Fisilau received a yellow card for a head-on collision with Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi. Despite being a man down, they opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a try from hooker Dan Frost.
The home side responded in the 20th minute when Phepsi Buthelezi finished off a well-coordinated attack. Shortly after, Springbok speedster Makazole Mapimpi scored their second try from a counter-attack initiated by Fassi and his Springbok teammate Grant Williams, who added a third try minutes later when he was the beneficiary of on an Ethan Hooker offload.
Exeter’s discipline issues continued as replacement Will Rigg was yellow-carded in the 32nd minute. The Durbanites took full advantage, with Kolisi scoring their fourth try just before the break. However, the English club managed to close the half with a second try from Frost to reduce the halftime deficit to 26-14.
The KwaZulu-Natalians extended their lead to 29-14 early in the second half via a Jordan Hendrikse penalty goal and Hendrikse was also pivotal when he set up Kolisi’s second try in the 54th minute.
However, discipline then became an issue for the hosts in the final quarter, with Eben Etzebeth and Emile van Heerden both receiving yellow cards, reducing them to 13 men. Exeter capitalized with a try from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who collected a cross-kick to score.
The hosts’ disciplinary woes continued as Eduan Keyter was also yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, leaving them with 12 men. Despite the numerical advantage, Exeter failed to secure a fourth try, with Tommy Wyatt losing the ball in the opposing in-goal area.
Scorers:
Sharks 39 (26) – Tries: Phepsi Buthelezi, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams, Siya Kolisi (2). Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (4). Penalty goals: Hendrikse (2).
Exeter Chiefs 21 (14) –Â Tries: Dan Frost (2), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Conversions: Josh Hodge (3).