In a helter-skelter Vodacom United Rugby Championship match on Friday evening, it was Edinburgh who emerged 33-28 victors over the Hollywoodbets Sharks to close out the Durban’s away commitments in the tournament this season.
A power scrum and subsequent penalty in the opening minutes set the tone for a dominant Hollywoodbets Sharks forward effort, and following a multiphase attack with Edinburgh reduced to a defensive role, the visitors finally folded under relentless pressure as Edwill van der Merwe rounded the defence out wide to score the opening try, with Jean Smith converting for the perfect start.
Throughout, it would be a dominant scrum and competitive lineout that would keep the Durbanites in the game, and regular scoring from both sides kept interest levels high.
Edinburgh responded with a try from a similar build-up, also a long period of attack, keeping the ball alive through the phases before carrying over the tryline, the conversion levelling matters in the 16th minute.
The response from the Hollywoodbets Sharks was immediate and devasting, another powerful scrum earning a penalty, kicked to touch and mauling the ball over the tryline from the close-quarter lineout, with Phepsi Buthelezi the man in possession and Smith adding the extras in the 20th minute.
Buthelezi continues to show his class as a potent attacking threat, adding his sixth try in the last four games. Unfortunately the loss of Jaden Hendrikse in the 25th minute didn’t help the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ cause after the Bok scrumhalf was stretchered off the field.
Edinburgh once again struck back, playing with some bite and being rewarded with a midfield break in the loose and the seven pointer that levelled matters with seven minutes of the half remaining.
It was the last score of the half as the teams went into the break on level pegging following an entertaining first 40.
It took 15 minutes of traditional rugby before the Hollywoodbets Sharks broke the deadlock in the second half, Vincent Koch smashing his way over after another dominant scrum, penalty and successful lineout, followed by relentless phase play before the replacement prop got over, with Smith adding two for a 21-14 lead.
But the to-and-fro nature of the succession of tries continued with Edinburgh exploiting space out wide to score their third try five minutes later, although the touchline conversion went wide to leave the Hollywoodbets Sharks leading by two points and the final quarter left to play.
The home team took the lead two minutes later with a charge-down from a clearance kick, and the try under the posts delivered a 26-21 lead, in front for the first time in the game.
They extended their lead when they capitalised on a loose ball, converting the transition from defence into attack and into points, scoring 19 unanswered points to turn the game onto its head with a 33-21 lead with 10 minutes left to play.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks picked up the bonus point when Vincent Tshituka stormed down the touchline to score in the final minute of the game after an exciting build-up, with Smith’s deadly boot adding the extras for a losing bonus point, taking two log points from their final game on tour.