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Griquas punish ill-disciplined Sharks to extend winning streak

rugby15 August 2025 15:30| © MWP
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The Suzuki Griquas beat the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 26–17 (halftime 7–10) in their Currie Cup Round 4 clash at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley on Friday afternoon.

In a match marked by momentum swings and disciplinary lapses, the hosts absorbed early pressure before asserting control in the final quarter to secure their third win of the campaign and extend the Sharks XV’s losing streak to four.

While the defending champions from KwaZulu-Natal had won three of their last five meetings against Griquas, they arrived in Kimberley under pressure after three straight losses - including a narrow two-point defeat to the Toyota Cheetahs.

Griquas, by contrast, were riding the momentum of consecutive wins.

The Sharks XV started brightly, with Vusi Simphiwe Moyo slotting an early penalty and Ceano Everson darting around the ruck for a nippy try.

Moyo converted to give the visitors a 10-7 halftime lead, with Caleb Abrahams having earlier crossed for Griquas.

But discipline proved the Sharks’ undoing. Three yellow cards - to Nick Hatton, Matt Romao and Jean Smith - disrupted their rhythm and handed Griquas key territory.

The hosts capitalised clinically, with Dylan Maart slicing through for a solo try and Derik Pretorius crashing over from a maul to reclaim the lead in a feisty second half.

The decisive blow came in the 75th minute, moments after Smith was given his sin- bin marching orders.

Griquas spread wide to exploit the overlap, and Gurshwin Wehr stepped inside to score.

George Whitehead curled in the conversion to stretch the lead to nine, effectively sealing the result.

The final exchanges were tense and tactical. Griquas opted for a long-range penalty attempt in the 77th minute.

When it drifted wide, the Sharks had a chance for a losing bonus point and launched a final surge from deep.

A penalty in stoppage time gave them a lifeline, and they kicked to the corner, but the lineout misfired and Griquas won the resulting scrum near the 22m to wind down the clock.

Despite flashes of brilliance from Diego Appollis, who scored twice, and Everson’s sharp running, the Sharks XV failed to convert late pressure into points.

A skew lineout, a crucial turnover and Griquas’ resolute defence kept them at bay.

For Griquas, it was a composed performance built on patience, opportunism and tactical discipline.

The defending champions, meanwhile, have their misery multiplied as they are left searching for answers of Round 5.

Scorers:

Suzuki Griquas – Tries: Caleb Abrahams, Dylan Maart, Derik Pretorius, Gurshwin Wehr, Conversions: George Whitehead (3), Penalties: George Whitehead

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV – Tries: Ceano Everson, Diego Appollis (2), Conversions: Vusi Simphiwe Moyo (2), Penalties: Vusi Simphiwe Moyo

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