Edinburg drew first blood within the first five minutes of the match with Ben Healy slotting over a penalty, with another successful penalty kick around 10 minutes later.  Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am scored the first try of the math in the 16th minute, with Siya Masuku adding the two points to put the Sharks in front.

A couple of minutes later, Sharks flanker James Venter went over for another try with Masuku making no mistakes.  With the Sharks leading by 14 – 6, Eben Etzebeth was sent off with a yellow card for interfering in the line-out, leaving the Sharks with fourteen men for the last ten minutes in the first half. 

Edinburg prop Pierre Schoeman promptly scored for the visitors, with Ben Healy making no mistakes. Another successful penalty kick by Healy put Edinburgh in front at half-time with 16 – 14.

The second half, however, thoroughly belonged to the Sharks with Siya Masuku slotting over two penalty kicks in the first twelve minutes.  Hooker Bongi Mbonambi then scored a try in the 55th minute, with Masuku’s conversion putting the Sharks firmly in the lead with 27 – 16.  With 20 minutes to go, Edinburgh had to find 11 points from somewhere, but the Sharks were relentless in applying pressure and mistakes were creeping in everywhere for Edinburg.  Masuku was successful with two more penalties before earning his rest and Curwin Bosch coming on the field for his 100th cap.

Two late tries by flanker Hamish Watson and hooker Dave Cherry respectively, and a stellar kicking performance by Ben Healy with 6 out of 6 were not enough to bring the team from Scotland back into the running. A last penalty kick by Bosch ensured a 36 – 30 victory for the Sharks and put them into the semi-finals of the competition.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger