A dominant display from the Hollywoodbets Sharks earned them a comprehensive and well-deserved 50-12 victory over Clermont at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday to close out the pool stages of the Investec Champions Cup.
Played on a sweltering hot summer afternoon, Durban mixing the heat and humidity as only the coastal city can at this time of the year and the energy-sapping effects certainly felt by the visiting French who tried hard but were outclassed and ultimately fatigued in the conditions.
There can be no denying the fact that this is a Hollywoodbets Sharks team that has committed to playing with energy and desire and they showed that throughout, playing with passion and delivering a truly spectacular 80-minute effort.
What a start for the Hollywoodbets Sharks who stole possession at their kick-off and within two minutes of the first whistle and Clermont having not yet touched the ball, Aphelele Fassi scored the opening try from a Jaden Hendrikse clever chip over the defence in opposition territory, Jordan Hendrikse converting from right in front for a 7-nil lead.
A 20-minute red card for Clermont a few minutes later when Yaw Penxe was mishandled in an aerial battle allowed the Hollywoodbets Sharks to get out of their danger zone, having defended manfully in denying the visitors a strike of their own.
But their tails were up, despite the one-man disadvantage and a cross-kick on attack saw the ball falling perfectly for the wing out wide and Clermont had their first score in the 12th minute, the touchline conversion going wide.
There was no respite though as Jaden Hendrikse finished off a strong carry from Matt Romao after Clermont were penalised on defence and the ball was sent to the touchline for an attacking lineout, rewarded in the corner with brother Jordan converting for a 14-5 lead in the 18th minute.
A pressure pass in the midfield saw Clermont snatch the loose ball and score against the run of play, allowing them to cut the deficit to two points with six minutes of an entertaining first half remaining.
Clermont closed out the half on attack, the final whistle finishing off their move following a forward pass, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks had two goal-line opportunities denied by stern defence a little earlier, but held out for a 14-12 half-time lead.
The French would fail to score another point in the game as the Hollywoodbets Sharks seemed to grow in confidence, assisted by the energy off the bench.
The home team started the second half showing intent and intensity on attack, and with Clermont conceding defensive penalties one after another, they had another man sent to the side of the field for repeated infringements, the sin-binning proving costly when Vincent Koch forced his way over for the third try and Hendrikse converted for a 21-12 lead five minutes into the half.
The bonus point try came just shy of the 50th minute, a cross kick from Fassi found PK Sobahle out wide and with Jurenzo Julius inside him, he drew his man and feigned to pass inside before putting on the afterburners, rounding the defender and scoring in the corner, with Hendrikse retaining his 100% success rate off the kicking tee to set up a 28-12 lead.
Another yellow card for cynical play on defence in the 63rd minute saw Clermont once again under pressure a man down. They conceded another penalty moments later and while they were busy milling around, body language showing how tired and demoralised they were, Fassi took a quick tap penalty and scored under the posts for another converted try and a 35-12 lead.
With Clermont barely hanging on, certainly not hanging on to the ball in the heat, the game opened up and it was the turn of Siya Masuku who scored his team’s sixth try after a strong carry from Manu Tshituka.
Phepsi Buthelezi scored a quite sublime solo effort in the final minute, Clermont losing the ball on attack and the replacement loose-forward streaking down the field, making 80m to finish off a quite remarkable piece of work.
Jurenzo Julius closed out a quite comprehensive victory following a lovely break from Corne Rahle and the centre still had a lot to do but showed his ability and pace to score and finish off this most entertaining game.