Mother Nature played her part in helping a gutsy Sharks side overcome the fancied Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup semi-final played at Absa Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
First there was a bizarre 25-minute interruption caused by an unwanted swarm of bees which buzzed around the pitch and the players’ heads, followed by a deluge which swamped the Absa Stadium from half-time right up to the final whistle.
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The bees may have been just the distraction the Sharks were looking for, and an unfocused Bulls team quickly went down 7-0, a Keegan Daniel try and conversion that would prove crucial in deciding this low scoring match.
Then came the almighty rain as the Sharks looked to defend a 10-6 half-time lead; the ball and pitch were soaked through and the players, it must be said, did extremely well to keep ball in hand. In fact, this probably impacted more on the Sharks’ game plan, as they had been the side more eager to carry the ball, while the Bulls were happy to build their game around the boot of Morne Steyn. So credit to the Sharks for handling the slippery conditions so well.
As the Bulls made their final bid for a winning try with the score at 16-12 in favour of the Sharks, the local team defended like Trojans. There were heroes aplenty, like plucky Keegan Daniel, hulk-like flanker Willem Alberts and half-back combination Charl McLeod and Patrick Lambie who were always in the thick of things. Centre Andries Strauss made one immense tackle close to full time. Beast Mtawarira carried the ball tirelessly and made his fair share of tackles.
Lambie, in particular, did his part, taking a brave and composed mark with just 90 seconds to go, and then hoofing the ball into touch in confident fashion.
But at the end of the day, all 15 men in black and white were heroes . . . aided by their fanatical supporters (many of whom braved the rain and stayed for the duration of the match) and the 16th man, Mother Nature.
The finals, here we come. I wonder what Mother Nature’s got planned for that special occasion. – Garth Johnstone