Staff Reporter.
@GalloImages.
Winger Ethan Hooker starred as the Sharks came back to beat Ospreys of Wales at a slippery Kings Park stadium in Durban on Friday night.
Hooker scored the third of the Sharks’ four tries as the hosts responded to an early deficit to score 21 unanswered points in a 29-10 victory. Jason Jenkins, Andre Esterhuizen and Phepsi Buthelezi each dotted down in the win.
The celebrations of a third win on the trot may be muted after the Sharks lost captain Eben Etzebeth to what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the first half.
In the 27th minute, Etzebeth was left writhing on the floor with an injury to his right knee.
He tried to walk it off, but minutes later was replaced and taken away on a medical cart – a big concern for both the Sharks and Boks.
The Sharks already by a lengthy injury list that includes scrumhalf Grant Williams (neck), flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse (back), centre Lukhanyo Am (knee) and prop Ox Nche (illness).
The game started with No.8 Morgan Morse winning a breakdown penalty and Dan Edwards slotting it for a three-point lead.
A scrum penalty allowed the Sharks to set up a line-out deep inside the Ospreys’ 22-metre area. A series of forward rushes saw lock Jason Jenkins open the Sharks with a try. Flyhalf Siya Masuku made it 7-3 with the conversion, with 11 minutes on the clock.
From the restart, Ospreys scrumhalf Kieran Hardy skinned Jaden Hendrikse and thought he had scored, but the TMO found a knock-on.
A tackle penalty gave the Sharks an attacking penalty, but Masuku kicked it dead, gifting the Ospreys an easy exit.
After the departure of Etzebeth on the half-hour mark, the Sharks used their forwards to soften the Ospreys’ defence, before Bok centre Esterhuizen used his hulking frame to charge over. Aphelele Fassi added the conversion – 14-3.
It was a scrappy start to the second half, but just past the 50-minute mark a Jaden Hendrikse chip-kick exposed the Ospreys defence and wing Hooker collected the bouncing ball to sprint over. Masuku added the conversion – 21-3.
The scrappy nature of the game continued up to the hour mark, with replacement hooker Sam Parry getting an armchair ride at the back of a powerful Ospreys maul. Edwards added the conversion – 10-21, with 20 minutes to go.
Buthelezi replied for the Sharks – an Fassi cross-field kick collected by Makazole Mapimpi, who offloaded to the replacement loose forward. Masuku was wide of the mark with the conversion, but the bonus point was secured – 26-10. Masuku put the seal on the win with a penalty on the stroke of full-time – 29-10.