The Peacock Blues ran in four tries against the defending champions, securing the full haul of five points after trailing 10–7 at half-time at Suzuki Stadium. It was the team’s third win on the trot and their last home game of the round-robin stage, keeping them in the hunt for a possible home semi-final later in the season.

The deadlock was broken in the 15th minute when Junior Springbok flyhalf Vusi Moyo put the Sharks ahead with a penalty. Shortly afterwards, Caleb Abrahams struck back for the Griquas with a converted try.

Janco Uys - Louis Botha/Griquas

Eight minutes before the break, the Sharks regained the lead when scrumhalf Ceano Everson crossed the whitewash for a converted try, giving them a three-point advantage at half-time.

Five minutes into the second half, Lourens Oosthuizen — a late inclusion in the side — crashed over for the Griquas. But the spirited young Durban outfit hit back once more, with outside centre Diego Apollis dotting down and Moyo adding the conversion.

Midway through the second half, powerful winger Dylan Maart put the home side back in front with a try in the corner, which George Whitehead duly converted. With five minutes remaining, fullback Cameron Hufke darted in for the bonus-point try that sealed the win for the Griquas.

Cameron Hufke - Louis Botha/Griquas

The Sharks pushed hard in the dying minutes in an effort to finish within seven points and claim a losing bonus point, but it wasn’t to be. The Griquas moved up to 15 log points and top spot — although that could change over the course of the weekend.

The Sharks, with just a single log point, are still mathematically in contention, but will need to collect all 15 available points from their remaining three matches.

Next Sunday, the Griquas will kick off the first of three consecutive away fixtures when they face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

Scorers:

Griquas: Tries – Caleb Abrahams, Lourens Oosthuizen, Dylan Maart, Cameron Hufke Conv. – George Whitehead 3

Sharks: Tries - Ceano Everson, Diego Apollis Conv. – Vusi Moyo 2 Pen – Moyo 1

Morgan Piek OFM Sport