The Sharks made historical past by turning into the primary South African group to win a European remaining with a cushty victory over Gloucester to assert the EPCR Problem Cup in London on Friday.
Tries from Phepsi Buthelezi, Aphelele Fassi and Makazole Mapimpi, to go along with a near-perfect kicking efficiency from Siya Masuku, powered the Sharks to a 36-22 victory on the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
🦈 @SharksRugby are #ChallengeCup champions! 🏆🇿🇦#GLOvSHA pic.twitter.com/onuva9lfzA
— SA Rugby journal (@SARugbymag) Could 24, 2024
The win provides the John Plumtree’s aspect their first-ever piece of main silverware in a world competitors, whereas additionally seeing the Durban aspect turn out to be the primary South African group to win an EPCR title.
Taking a 16-3 lead into half time, the Sharks had far an excessive amount of firepower for Gloucester to deal with, chewing the Cherry and Whites on the scrum and constructing on that momentum so as to add an additional two tries and all however seal the win by the 60-minute mark.
The Sharks did have to barter a difficult opening 10 minutes, the place they conceded 5 penalties and misplaced Aphelele Fassi to a yellow card for repeated infringements.
Nevertheless, they did excellently to soak up all of Gloucester’s strain, coming away with out conceding some extent, with Eben Etzebeth making a try-saving intervention, earlier than Masuku received the Sharks on the board together with his first penalty.
Whereas Gloucester responded with a 59-metre penalty from scrumhalf Caolan Englefield, No 8 Phepsi Buthelezi produced a second of magic to attain the opening strive, with a strong run and sensational dummy.
WHAT A TRY!!! Phepsi Buthelezi’s with an excellent dummy!!@SharksRugby have a 16-3 lead on the break of the Problem Cup remaining!
pic.twitter.com/j2Ki4P89BN— SA Rugby journal (@SARugbymag) Could 24, 2024
Masuku transformed and added one other two penalties to present the Sharks a 13-point lead on the break.
Underneath strain from Ox Nche and man of the match Vincent Koch, Gloucester hauled off their entrance row at half time and it appeared to repay after they received a penalty from the primary scrum of the second half.
Nevertheless, the Sharks roared again into the ascendency, as Masuku transformed two extra penalties, taking his haul to 21 factors, earlier than placing Fassi over the tryline and establishing Mapimpi with a pinpoint crossfield kick to all however seal the end result, regardless of Gloucester ending with a two-try flurry.
Picture: Paul Harding/Gallo Photos
