Ice-cool Davids kicks Sharks into URC semifinal
The Sharks dug deep, some forceful play from the pack, allowed for some slick handling by the backs with Aphelele Fassi touching down next to the posts.
By that stage the Sharks were well in the ascendancy, their bench making a greater impact and it was one of those, front-rower Fez Mbatha, who burst through to give the Sharks the lead.
Munster, who won three playoff matches on the road when they claimed the title two years ago, showed great resolve, with veteran Conor Murray coming off the bench to land a 45m penalty to tie the scores.
Extra time matched the dire first half in terms of quality, with the match eventually reaching its unusual conclusion and ensuring the Sharks have to make a trip north to Loftus next week to take on the Bulls. Scorers
Sharks 24 (0): Tries — Ethan Hooker, Aphelele Fassi, Fez Mbatha. Conversions — Jaden Hendrickse (3). Penalty — Jaden Hendrickse
Munster 24 (7): Tries — Calvin Nash, Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Kilgallen. Conversions — Jack Crowley (3). Penalty — Conor Murray
* Sharks won kicking contest 6-4
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Sharks draw confidence from Loftus wins ahead of URC semi-final
Vincent Tshituka embraces Fez Mbatha after the Sharks beat Munster in the URC quarter-final this past weekend. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix The Sharks will have no fear when they travel to Loftus Versfeld for the United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final on Saturday, thanks to their happy memories of winning their last two matches at the Bulls' fortress. In sport, it can be argued that what happened in the past often has little bearing on the present. However, the collective memory banks at the Sharks include a URC win in Pretoria in February and a heroic Currie Cup victory last September. The latter win was a significant psychological blow to the Bulls, who had set their sights on winning the Currie Cup. Instead, they were beaten on home turf by a Sharks side that went on to clinch the trophy a week later at Ellis Park, against the luckless Lions. This week's URC semi-final is not comparable to an international team travelling to Eden Park in Auckland, where the All Blacks have remained unbeaten for 100 games. That is a proper mental obstacle for visiting teams. In contrast, most of the Sharks team travelling to Loftus featured in that bizarre Currie Cup win late last year. It was big man Trevor Nyakane who scored a try deep into extra time to force a 40-40 draw. The Sharks progressed to the final on the technicality that they had scored six tries to the Bulls' four. Nyakane — still at the Sharks but currently recovering from a long-term injury — never scored a try in his three seasons at the Bulls, but crossed the line in that match to silence Loftus. His famous post-match dance jig added insult to injury. After securing the Currie Cup title, the Sharks went on to win the Challenge Cup. Head coach John Plumtree later admitted that the season-defining moment for his team was the Currie Cup victory at Loftus, where they were reduced to 12 players at one point.


The Citizen
13 hours ago
- The Citizen
OPINION: Bulls and Sharks sure to bring in the fans — at a better kick-off time
At least the game kicks off at a more regular time this weekend, as opposed to the lunchtime kickoff against Edinburgh. Well, what a weekend that was of United Rugby Championship action! And as things stand the top four teams after the regular season have advanced to the semifinals – exactly what the organisers would have hoped for. Top-placed Leinster will host fourth-placed Glasgow Warriors, who are also the defending champions, while the second-placed Bulls will host third-placed Sharks, in the last four. This last weekend everything went as expected, for the most part, with all the home teams winning, but few could have predicted the drama in Durban, with a first-ever kick-off to determine the winner. How very exciting that was, and now everyone knows who Bradley Davids is. Well done to the Sharks, but they will be up against it this weekend at Loftus, playing against a Bulls team determined to finally win the URC. Semifinals Thankfully this weekend's big local semifinal kicks off at the more appropriate time of 6.15pm, which gives fans enough time to watch their kids in action on Saturday before heading to Loftus. It is odd that last Saturday's quarterfinal against Edinburgh kicked off at 1.30pm, especially considering the Bulls finished second on the log and should surely have been given a later kick-off. Because, let's be honest, who's actually ready to go to a big URC quarterfinal at midday or lunchtime on a Saturday? Not too many fans, I believe, who have things to do in the morning, and also possibly have kids of their own playing sport. It wasn't the best crowd that Loftus could have had on Saturday, but let's hope it's bigger and better this weekend. I'm sure it will be … and the Bulls deserve a big crowd backing them, after the season they've had, and this game potentially their last at home in the competition. It promises to be a thrilling match, because while the Sharks haven't been great this season, they did finish third on the final points table, and are in the semifinals, and now anything can happen. The good news is South Africa will have a finalist for the fourth season in a row – but who will the Bulls or Sharks face – Leinster or Glasgow, and will that final be in Dublin, Pretoria or Durban?

The Herald
14 hours ago
- The Herald
Student jailed for life over fatal stabbing of girlfriend in George
'Regional court prosecutor advocate Karin Barnard declined [Mahlanza's] guilty plea as his claims were not the true version of what happened. Barnard told the court the student assistant had to use a spare key to open the door and when he opened it, [Mahlanza] was still bent over the deceased, stabbing her, and he had to dive to remove him from the deceased,' said Ntabazalila. Barnard argued he did not plead guilty out of remorse but rather as a strategy to try to lessen his punishment. 'The probation officer's report indicates that this court is dealing with an aggressive offender. Domestic violence has become such a huge problem. Like other men before him, finding themselves in the same situation, anger is being given the blame. The victim is being blamed. Everything other than themselves,' she said. ' This is a serious crime he is convicted of. Not only was it committed against a young female victim, 20, but also a victim who was in a romantic relationship with him. 'It was committed on the property of a tertiary institution where young people come to study and develop their skills to not only better their own lives but in most cases also that of their families. When parents enrol their children in these institutions, which are mostly far from their family home, they trust their children will be safe. ' Society should be protected against [Mahlanza] and his problem with aggression. The court has a legal duty to protect society.' The court agreed with the state and imposed a life sentence. Western Cape director of public prosecutions advocate Nicolette Bell said: 'Our society has a huge challenge of gender-based violence and femicide. This is affecting young people and young women at institutions of higher learning are being affected. It can never be overemphasised how important human life is and therefore we will be vigorous in our pursuit of these cases to serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers.' TimesLIVE