Plenty of drama as 13-man Sharks hold on to beat Harlequins

The Sharks nearly paid the price for their ill discipline but ultimately held on to defeat Harlequins 39-31 in pulsating Champions Cup encounter in Durban.

Seemingly cruising to victory midway through the second half, the men from Durban lost Bongi Mbonambi to a yellow card before also losing fellow Springbok Ox Nche to a red for a head-on collision moments later, leaving them to try and protect their lead with just 13 men.

That allowed their English opponents to come roaring back into the match with three consecutive tries - two of them from Bok Andre Esterhuizen - to reduce the deficit to just one point, before a fantastic 79th-minute score from fullback Boeta Chamberlain saw the home side survive and secure a bonus-point win.

The Sharks crossed for five tries, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi and winger Makazole Mapimpi crossing for two tries and wing Werner Kok joining Chamberlain on the scoresheet.

Quins opened the scoring with an early try after five minutes by wing Bassett, who signed for the club after the demise of Wasps, was found with a superb long pass by fellow wing Cadan Murley after a lineout close to the home side's line.

Flyhalf Tommaso Allan landed the conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 lead before Sharks replied with a try of their own as international hooker Bongi Mbonambi crashed over from a driving lineout.

Curwin Bosch landed the extras to make the scores all level before he converted a penalty to give the home side a 10-7 lead and Sharks then extended their lead with a second try.

South Africa winger Mapimpi, back in Sharks colours, took advantage of some sloppy defending to cross for his first try to make it 17-7 to the home side midway through the first half. Curwin added the extras with his second conversion.

Mapimpi crossed for his second try after a dominant scrum by the Sharks five metres out from the Harlequins line saw him dance and step his way past defenders to cross the whitewash and to make it 22-7.

Quins flanker Will Evans crossed for his side's second try after the visitors showed impressive control at a driving maul, with Allan converting to make it 22-14 at half-time.

After the break, Sharks crossed for a fourth try after wing Kok raced on to his kick-and-chase to score in the corner, securing the bonus point for the home side. Bosch landed the conversion.

Sharks then went down to 13 men, with hooker Mbonambi shown yellow for persistent infringing, and a head-on collision with Jack Walker resulting in a red card for prop Nche.

Harlequins took full advantage, with centre Esterhuizen crossing for two tries, along with Bassett grabbing his brace before Chamberlain sealed the win for Sharks.

Scorers

Sharks - (22) 39

Tries: Bongi Mbonambi, Makazole Mapimpi (2), Werner Kok, Boeta Chamberlain

Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4)

Penalties: Curwin Bosch (2)

Harlequins - (14) 31

Tries: Josh Bassett (2), William Evans, Andre Esterhuizen (2)

Conversions: Tommaso Allan(2), Will Edwards

Penalty: Will Edwards