Siya Kolisi

Siya Kolisi. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Sports Inc

Siya Kolisi has the last laugh on Sharks return to Cape Town

Siya Kolisi has helped his new team, the Sharks, beat his previous employers, the Stormers, in Saturday’s opening match of the Rainbow Cup.

Siya Kolisi

Siya Kolisi. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Sports Inc

Siya Kolisi has helped his new team, the Sharks, beat his previous employers, the Stormers, in Saturday’s opening match of the Rainbow Cup at the Cape Town Stadium.

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The Stormers blew a sizeable first-half lead as the Sharks came storming back via a hat-trick from Reniel Hugo to snatch a dramatic 33-30 victory on Saturday.

Playing their first match in their new home, the Cape Town Stadium, things were looking good for the hosts as they opened up a 23-7 lead in the first half, but they surrendered 26 unanswered points thanks in no small part to Hugo’s heroics – a deficit they were unable to overcome despite threatening to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with the final kick of the game.

The Capetonians also did themselves no favours by being forced to play 40 minutes of the match with 14 men after receiving two separate red cards – the first to Seabelo Senatla in the first half for playing an opponent in the air, and the second to debutant Willie Engelbrecht after the break for two dangerous tackles.

Though they could replace those two players after 20 minutes according to a new law being trialled in the competition, it was still a lengthy period spent with a man down, and it cost them dearly.

The Stormers led 17-0 after just 12 minutes thanks to tries from scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies and centre Rikus Pretorius, with flyhalf Kade Wolhuter looking solid as he slotted two conversions and a penalty goal to leave the Sharks staring down the barrel.

But the visitors kept themselves in the picture thanks to two first-half tries from clever lineout moves – the first by Springbok prop Thomas du Toit in the 16th minute and the second by hooker Fez Mbatha just before half-time to ensure they stayed within touching distance after Wolhuter had extended the Stormers’ lead via two more penalties.

After the break, the Stormers were left stunned by a hat-trick of tries from none other than Sharks lock Reniel Hugo – as the visitors took full advantage of their opponents being a man down for the second time in the match.

The big man’s first try came from a quick-tap penalty, while the second arrived three minutes later from quick attacking play close to the try-line. And against all odds, he crashed over for his hat-trick in the 53rd minute as the Sharks totally turned the tables on their opponents.

That left the Stormers with a 10-point deficit, but Springbok fullback Damian Willemse gave them hope of forcing a result when he latched onto a crossfield kick from Abner van Reenen and scored a crucial try with just seven minutes to play.

The hosts had a chance to snatch the victory in injury time when Van Reenen kicked a grubber through a rushed Sharks defence, but though the ball sat up perfectly for Ruhan Nel, the centre lost his composure and made a hash of his attempt to dot the ball down and the Sharks hung on for victory.

SCORERS:

Stormers

Tries: Herschel Jantjies, Rikus Pretorius, Damian Willemse

Conversions: Kade Wolhuter (2), Abner van Reenen

Penalties: Wolhuter (3)

Sharks

Tries: Thomas du Toit, Fez Mbatha, Reniel Hugo (3)

Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4)

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TEAMS:

Stormers

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain)

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Dan du Plessis

Sharks

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Werner Kok