Staff Reporter.
The Sharks’ 2022-23 Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign ended with a heavy quarter-final loss to Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.
Despite scrumhalf Grant Williams drawing first blood with an unconverted try, the Sharks trailed 21-5 at half time and came second to a formidable Leinster outfit that scored five tries for a 35-5 victory at the Aviva Stadium.
Bookmakers had predicted a comfortable win for Leinster, who had finished the URC regular season in first place with an impressive 17 wins out of 18 games, while the Sharks languished in eighth. Leinster will now host the winner of the weekend’s last URC quarter-final between Glasgow Warriors and Munster.
No 8 Caelin Doris, loosehead prop Michael Milne and right wing Jordan Larmour scored three crucial first-half tries to give Leinster a commanding 16-point lead at half time.
Openside flanker Max Deegan and replacement Jamison Gibson-Park added two more tries in the second half to seal the deal for the home team.
Williams broke free to score their only points of the match, but left winger Makazole Mapimpi was shown a yellow card for a high tackle in trying to stop Doris from scoring off a well-executed lineout set play.
The Durbanites’ loss dashed their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup, as they needed to win the URC title to secure a spot in the competition. They will now turn their attention to the Currie Cup and likely bolster their squad with URC campaigners.
However, Sharks director of rugby Neil Powell will be concerned about flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain, who limped off with what appeared to be a groin problem.