High Drama

05/13/2024 03:59 AM

Benetton came from behind to steal a one point victory over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in a tight Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon, running out 25-24 victors at the end of 90 pulsating minutes.

Benetton opened the scoring inside the first five minutes, slotting a penalty conceded on defence, and although they struck first blood, over the ensuing 10 minutes, there was a sense that the Hollywoodbets Sharks were building some momentum with regular sorties into Italian territory.

On the quarter hour, Aphelele Fassi received the ball following a good driving maul from the forwards and he made no mistake with his team's first points, with regular man of the match Siya Masuku slotting the conversion.

Momentum and confidence played a role in the second try, Benetton consigned to a defensive role and doing well for the next 10 minutes before Ox Nche powered his way over following a series of forward pick-and-drives for a 12-3 lead on the 25 minute mark.

Having had little attacking ball, Benetton finally struck gold with a set move from first phase ball, a midfield gap exploited for their first try of the game with under five minutes of the explosive first half remaining.

Both teams had an opportunity to attack in the fading moments of the match but neither was able to make further impact on the scoreboard and it was the Durban side who led 12-8 at the half-time break following a rather frenetic opening 40 minutes.

Unfortunately the Hollywoodbets Sharks had their share of problems, losing Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch and Lukhanyo Am over the course of the half and that did impact the flow of the game.

Benetton came out of the changerooms looking more composed than they had in the first half and almost immediately turned the game on its head, a clinical driving maul and the conversion pushing them into a 15-12 lead five minutes in.

The relief was short and the punishment instant as Werner Kok powered his way through four would-be defenders, showing speed, agility and strength to close out a great team effort, with Masuku's conversion pushing them back into the lead.

Kok added his second try and the bonus point 10 minutes later after Aphelele Fassi took a beautiful catch under pressure and it was game on, the ball spread around before Kok was again too strong in contact to extend the lead to 24-15.

Sensing that the result was either running away from them or within grasp, Benetton chose the latter as they threw everything into attack, and on earning a penalty, sent it through the uprights to pull the game to within a converted try as the game hit the final 10 minutes and the Italians trailing 24-18.

The crowd was stun into silence when Benetton set up the win with a late try when the Hollywoodbets Sharks were reduced to 14 men, leaving the conversion to push them into a 25-24 lead with less than two minutes remaining.

It was helter-skelter stuff in the dying moments, but sadly there was no coming back for the Hollywoodbets Sharks as Benetton held on.

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