Sharks ground out an upset 17-12 victory over Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday to win a South African Currie Cup final that was always tense but never reached great heights.
127 years of provincial rugby, one winner, your 2018 Currie Cup Champions – The Cell C @TheSharksZA – #WhereLegendsRise #CurrieCupFinal pic.twitter.com/cJaBmJBt6n
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) October 27, 2018
The result maintained a seven-year pattern of away victories when the teams meet in the trophy decider with Sharks winning twice in Cape Town and Province twice in Durban.
Having conceded 50 points in a regular-season loss at Province last month, the Sharks defended better and Province failed to score a try after claiming 40 in seven previous games.
Defending champions Province also struggled at the lineouts, having a number of throws stolen, and changing hookers at half-time did not have the desired effect.
It said a lot about a dour duel that both tries came from forwards with hooker Akker van der Merwe and flanker Tyler Paul barging over following patient, multi-phase build-ups.
Province led 6-0 at half-time and after conceding a converted try, regained the lead when ace goal-kicker SP Marais slotted his third penalty before being forced off injured.
The Sharks edged ahead a second time through a Robert du Preez penalty and a try by Paul widened the lead to 17-9 before a fourth Province penalty completed the scoring.
In the closing minutes, the visiting side played keep-ball brilliantly, creating endless rucks and comfortably retaining possession to the frustration of the helpless hosts.
Sharks then won a post-siren scrum and Robert du Preez, one of three sons of coach Robert du Preez who started, booted the ball into the main stand and his team were champions.
The sweltering 34 degrees celsius (93 fahrenheit) heat tested the stamina of both teams and referee Jaco Peyper halted play midway through each half for one-minute water breaks.
“It was a massive effort by the boys,” said winning skipper and scrum-half Louis Schreuder. “Character was the key and our forwards laid the victory foundations.”
Province lock and captain Chris van Zyl admitted to “terrible disappointment” and did not try to hide where his side failed, saying: “Losing the lineout battle cost us dearly.”
Marais, the runaway leading Currie Cup points scorer this season, slotted two first-half penalties to give record 34-time champions Province a six-point advantage by the break.
After man-of-the-match Van der Merwe scored, Du Preez fluffed a simple conversion only to get a second chance, from which he succeeded, because a Province player charged prematurely.
Marais and Robert du Preez exchanged penalties, then Paul surged over the tryline on 71 minutes for what proved the crucial score and Du Preez converted.
Damian Willemse kicked a penalty to leave five points between the teams with five minutes remaining, but the Sharks managed the closing stages expertly to finish deserved winners.
Currie Cup Champions 2018 ? pic.twitter.com/UJl8W8n8ko
— The Sharks (@TheSharksZA) October 27, 2018
