Sharks' first-half blitz blows Griquas away in Durban

The Sharks dotted down through Jaden Hendrikse, Hakeem Kunene, Eduan Keyter, Jannes Potgieter, Jurenzo Julius and Ethan Bester while Marco de Witt, Jurenzo Julius, Sango Xamlashe and Dylan Maart getting on the try column for the Griquas.

Both sides were searching for their second win of the season and the Sharks came out with intent - desperate to make up for a poor start to the season.

Hendrikse's try came when the scrumhalf dummied and dived over from close range after the hosts had worked the ball up the field through a series of powerful carries from the forwards. Their second five-pointer in the 19th minute was from a more expansive move as the ball went through the hands before Hakeem Kunene received a shot and burst over to score.

Five minutes later, the Sharks went on the front foot from a lineout on halfway as Kunene turned provider to put Keyter through a gap, who raced away and stepped inside to cross the whitewash. Lione; Cronje's conversion made it 21-0.

The Griquas got off the mark in the 28th minute as flank De Witt showed supreme strength to haul his frame over the try-line with Lubabalo Dobela adding the extras. However, the Sharks responded also immediately - also through a flank - Potgieter.

The Sharks finished the first period with panache. The Griquas dropped the ball on halfway allowing Julius a free run to the line.

The Griquas started the second-half strongly, scoring converted tries in quick succession through Xamlashe and Maart to bring the score back to 35-21.

On the hour mark, Bester scored for the Durbanites after bursting away from a driving maul that was set up on the 22. There were no further tries scored in the final 20 minutes as the match finished with Griquas loose forward Hanru Singel red-carded for a dangerous clean out at a ruck.

The scorers:

For Sharks:

Tries: Hendrikse, Kunene, Keyter, Potgieter, Julius, Bester

Cons: Cronje 5

For Griquas:

Tries: De Witt, Xamlashe, Maart

Cons: Dobela 2, Robinson

Red card: Hanru Sirgel (Griquas, 80′ – foul play, dangerous clear-out)

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 LItelihle Bester, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Bathobele Hlekani, 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Ethan Bester, 1 Braam Reyneke.

Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Hennie Sieberhagen, 20 Siya Ningiza, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Anthony Volmink.

Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Leon Lyons.

Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Hanru Sirgel, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Zinedine Robinson, 23 Jay-Cee Nel.

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen

Assistant referees: Local

TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen

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