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The home side found themselves trailing 18-14 as the match entered the final quarter but two tries, courtesy of centre Meyer Bosman and wing Lwazi Mvovo, finally helped the Sharks to a bonus-point victory which helped the Durban-based team into second place on the log on 37 points, five points behind the log-leading Lions.
The result was desperately hard on a Griquas outfit which was far from overawed from playing against the defending champions and the men from Kimberley failed to garner any points, which leaves them in fifth position on the log with a semi-final berth looking more and more unlikely.
The visitors were the quickest out of the blocks and they raced into a 10-0 lead after 18 minutes with all their points coming courtesy of fullback Rudi Vogt.
Vogt kicked a penalty in the fourth minute before he scored and converted a try after wing Rocco Jansen had made a searing break up the left-hand touchline before popping an inside pass to Vogt who trotted over for the five-pointer.
The Sharks were proving to be their own worst enemies as they committed nine handling errors in the first half.
But in the 23rd minute they finally found some rhythm and a quick tap-penalty five metres short of the Griquas’ tryline resulted in a try for loosehead prop Dale Chadwick who muscled his way over from close range.
The match was then delayed for 10 minutes when the stadium lights went out, plunging the playing area into darkness.
The break seemed to help the home side to settle and six minutes before half-time flank Jean Deysel scored his team’s second try when he stretched out a long arm to score between the posts despite despairing tackle from Griquas eighthman Jonathan Mokuena.
Sharks flyhalf Frederick Michalak kicked the conversion as the hosts went to the break holding a slender four-point lead.
The second half unfolded much like the first and the Griquas regained the lead, eight minutes after the restart, when centre Matthew Rosslee scored his first Currie Cup try when he sniped his way over from five metres out.
Eight minutes later Vogt kicked his second penalty before the Sharks finally hit their straps.
In the 62nd minute centre Meyer Bosman scored his team’s third try after a powerful surge from hooker Kyle Cooper allowed Bosman to drift into a gap in the Griquas’ defensive alignment.
Bosman converted his own try and, with six minutes left in the game, wing Lwazi Mvovo secured the bonus-point try when he stepped his way past three defenders.
With time having elapsed Bosman concluded the evening’s proceedings as he kicked a penalty as the centre ended the night with a personal haul of 10 points.
Scorers
The Sharks – Tries: Dale Chadwick, Jean Deysel, Meyer Bosman, Lwazi Mvovo; Conversions: Frederick Michalak (2), Bosman; Penalty: Bosman.
GWK Griquas – Tries: Rudi Vogt, Matthew Rosslee; Conversion: Vogt; Penalties: Vogt (2).
