The Sharks drew first blood when hooker Jacques Marais went over the whitewash to give the hosts a 7-0 lead. Flanker Tino Mavesere extended the advantage to 14-0. A yellow card for lock Coetzee le Roux gave the visitors the momentum to score one of their own, courtesy of flanker Sauliegh Arendse.

Youngster Jean Smith was successful with a penalty before half-time, putting the Sharks in a comfortable position at 17-7 at the break.

First points on the board in the second half came from another successful penalty by Smith, extending their lead yet again, but Boland wing Donovan Don responded with a try, reducing the deficit to 20-14.

The crowd in Pietermaritzburg was on its feet again when Marais went over for his second try of the evening shortly after, but Boland struck back when prop Dayan van der Westhuizen finished off a series of forward raids and James Tedder again converted to make it a six-point game.

‘Tiaan Fourie was yellow-carded’

In the final quarter of the match, Smith was successful with a third penalty when Boland were penalised for a high tackle, making it 30-21 for the hosts. But the men from Wellington were not done yet. Replacement front-rower HP van Schoor scored a try to make it 30-28. 

Things turned even more gloomy for the Sharks when replacement Tiaan Fourie was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-down and Tedder kicked over the penalty to make it 31-30. 

But a 42-metre penalty by Siya Masuku six minutes after the hooter gave the Sharks their second victory of the competition and ensured Boland stays in second place on the Currie Cup log with 23 points.

The Sharks will host the Pumas on Friday in the final round of the Currie Cup, while the Kavaliers travel to Western Province on Saturday.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg