URC result: Sharks taught a harsh lesson in wet Durban

Edinburgh flyhalf Blair Kinghorn scored a brace for the Scottish side as they outscored the Sharks three tries to one for a valuable 21-5 win at a soaking wet Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday in an entertaining United Rugby Championship (URC) clash.

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The first half was a tight scramble as both teams tried to make their presence felt on attack, but the soaking conditions resulted in numerous unforced errors, which saw only one try being scored in the half by Kinghorn for a 7-0 lead.

Sharks dominated possession and territory

The Sharks, who boasted 64% possession and 70% territory in the half, meanwhile, missed two penalty goals and were unable to capitalise on point-scoring chances close to the tryline, which left them scoreless in the half.

Edinburgh added two more second half tries, by Emiliano Boffelli (fullback) and Kinghorn and limited the home side to one try by prop Thomas du Toit, which saw them clinch the valuable win.

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The Durbanites had an early opportunity to open up the scoring with a penalty goal, but flyhalf Curwin Bosch’s attempt was unsuccessful. They were dealt a blow in the 12th minute as Marius Louw (centre) received a yellow card for tackling a player in the air and Edinburgh capitalised on this with Kinghorn crossing the tryline in the 20th minute after receiving the ball out wide and sniping inside a defender to dash through. The successful conversion by Boffelli saw them take a 7-0 lead.

The Sharks got close to the tryline twice in the 31st minute, but conceded a crucial penalty at a breakdown, which costs them a valuable scoring opportunity, and Bosch missed yet another shot at goal shortly before the break.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men on the stroke of half-time as Peirce Philips (lock) received a yellow card for foul play, bit neither team was able to add to the score, leaving the visitors 7-0 ahead at half-time.

The Durbanites’ had an early opportunity to score in the second half, but they knocked on the ball on the fringe of the tryline with the visitors were reduced to 14 men, but they continued to show their fighting spirit which saw Thomas du Toit (prop) crash over the in the 50th minute after some committed play close to the tryline. The conversion attempt, however, went wayward, which left the hosts trailing by two points.

Boffelli added the Scottish side’s second try in the 55th minute as he held off a tackle by Bosch after a good break close to the tryline and he added the conversion to double their points tally to 14.

Kinghorn added his scored his second five-pointer in the 69th minute after some fine footwork, kicking a loose ball forward twice before diving on it, and this edged them into a handy 21-5 lead with minutes to play.

Scorers:

Sharks

Try: Thomas du Toit

Edinburgh

Tries: Blair Kinghorn (2), Emiliano Boffelli

Conversions: Boffelli (3)