By Max Drinkwater-James
An 84th Minute Fez Mbatha try gave their first win in the URC this season after an action-packed game of rugby from both sides.
The Dragons were looking to return to their winning ways following their defeat to Leinster last time out but fell just short despite an encouraging performance.
A first half hattrick of tries with Taine Basham, Chris Coleman and Rhodri Williams all crossing in the first half. A second half Ben Carter try gave the Dragons hope but tries from Vincent Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Jurenzo Juilius, Ethan hooker and the match winner from Mbatha sank the Dragons to their second defeat in as many games.
The hosts held nothing back from their approach and came into the game all guns blazing with early on pressure from the kickoff forcing the Sharks into coughing up early penalties for the Dragons in good positions.
The first chance at points came in the first minute with a penalty being given just inside the Sharks’ half after Shane Lewis-Hughes forced the penalty with a clever jackal.
Dragons fly half Lloyd Evans looked to thrust his side ahead with the penalty but his shot on goal drew just left of the uprights and squandered an early chance.
Evans wouldn’t waste his chance at the second time of asking however slotting a penalty just three minutes later to give his side the lead in the third minute.
The visitors would see limited ball in the opening ten minutes but when they did aimless kicks, and a poor skill set display kept them pinned back.
This culminating discipline was really being the visitors Achilles heel both in defense and in attack which was topped by James Venter going to the sin bin for ten minutes after a hick tackle review. The Dragons cemented their lead further after Taine Basham powered his way over the whitewash following some strong phase play from the hosts.
Evans added the extras to stretch the lead to 10-0 but the Sharks would strike back with a try of their own just five minutes later. This time it was the turn of the visitors to flex their muscles at the breakdown with a series of destructive carries saw captain Vincent Tshituka cross for the visitors first points of the afternoon.
The Dragons lit up Rodney Parade with some great backs play in the 26th minute with Rhodri Williams hooking his run around the Sharks defense before finding Dyer who was stopped just short of the line before Chris Coleman broke through to extend his sides lead with a booming carry for the line.
With the scores sat 15-5 in favor of the Dragons the next score of the match would be vital for both sides and the dragons were the team to find that score.
A great break from Jared Rosser down the left wing saw scrum half Williams on the wingers inside receive the ball and put the dragons even further ahead with the score 22-5 just before half time.
The Sharks closed the half with a bang with some slick handling skills giving Jaden Hendrikse all the space in the world to draw the visitors closer to their hosts at the break the lead reduced to ten points.
Emphatically the Sharks came into the second half looking like a different team with two early tries, the first off which resembled an NFL touchdown from Jurenzo Julius but was deemed a try by TMO Brian MacNeice. The second Sharks try of the half was an easy pick for Ethan Hooker who was left with the entire dragons’ dead ball area to himself to put the Sharks ahead by four.
Incredibly the Dragons would hit back with a try of their own just six minutes later when Ben Carter thundered over from close range leaving the Dragons ahead by a point. In another turn in this rugby tale the Dragons would add a further three points to their lead through a Will Reed penalty at the 58th minute mark before missing another penalty in the 63rd minute.
The game would go incredibly close for both sides with the Sharks heading into the final ten minutes the stronger team a complete opposite of the first half. Incredibly the game and its drama would last all the way until the 84th Minute when Sharks substitute Fez Mbatha pounced on a loose ball to cross right under the uprights to break Dragons hearts.
The try would go upstairs to TMO and after a lengthy debate the try was given much to the disapproval of the home faithful. For the Dragons it’s back-to-back defeats in the URC whilst the Sharks bounce back from defeat last time out to Connacht.
Dragons: 30
Tries: 4 (Taine Basham, Chris Coleman, Rhodri Williams, Ben Carter)
Conversion:2 (Lloyd Evans)
Penalties: 3 (Lloyd Evans, Will Reed)
Drop Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
15. Angus O’Brien, 14. Rio Dyer, 13. Harry Wilson, 12. Aneurin Owen, 11. Jared Rosser, 10. Lloyd Evans, 9. Rhodri Williams, 1. Rhodri Jones, 2. Brodie Coghlan, 3. Chris Coleman, 4. Ben Carter (C), 5. Matthew Screech, 6. Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7. Taine Basham, 8. Dan Lydiate.
16. Oli Burrows, 17. Rodrigo Martinez (51’), 18. Luke Yendel(74’), 19. Joe Davies, 20. Ryan Woodman (53’), 21. Dane Blacker (63’), 22. Will Reed (46’), 23. Joe Westwood (46’).
Sharks: 33
Tries: 5 (Vincent Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Jurenzo Juilius, Ethan hooker and Fez Mbatha x1)
Conversion: 4 ( Siya Masuka)
Penalties:0
Drop Goals:0
Yellow Cards: 2 (James Venter 10’, Gerbrandt Grobler 52)
Red Cards:0
15. Jordan Hendrikse, 14. Eduan Keyter, 13. Jurenzo Julius, 12. Andre Esterhuizen,11. Ethan Hooker, 10. Siya Masuku, 9. Jaden Hendrikse. 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 2. Dylan Richardson, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 4. Jason Jenkins, 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 6. Jamess venter, 7. Vincent Tshituka (C), 8. Manu Tshituka.
16. Fez Mbatha (55’), 17. Trevor Nyakane 55’), 18. Hanro Jacobs 55’), 19. Corne Rahl (67’), 20. Phepsi Buthelezi (55’), 21. Cameron Wright, 22, Lionel Cronje, 23. Francois Venter.
