HALF-TIME: Sharks 36-30 Edinburgh

It’s not to be for Edinburgh on their second visit to Durban in as many weeks, frustratingly unable to build on a slender half-time lead for the bulk of the second 40 – crossing late through Watson and Cherry.

TRY - Cherry

A carbon copy of the Watson maul try, it’s hooker Dave Cherry who this time crosses from short range to score.

Healy converts (36-30).

PEN - Bosch

Replacement stand-off Curwin Bosch bisects the posts from the tee to put the contest well out of reach (36-23).

HIGHLIGHT

TRY - Watson!

Hamish Watson drives hard from the back of the maul which marches over from short range!

Healy converts and it’s a ten-point game (33-23)

Sharks build and slot three

Sharks enjoy repeated phases, keeping it tight and putting width on the ball – getting change from both on the gain line. Edinburgh are forced to infringe once more as they defend frenetically.

Masuku opts for a kick from distance and converts to make it a three-score game (33-16).

Pen - Masuku

Masuku adds another three points for the hosts who capitalise once more on the visitors’ mounting discipline issues in this half.

Frustration

Frustration for Edinburgh there who can’t capitalise on some rare possession and territory in this half – pinged for obstruction at the 5m lineout after a fine Healy break.

SUB

Luke Crosbie comes on for Bill Mata.

TRY - Mbonambi

Edinburgh contest the lineout deep on their 5m lineout and space opens around the back for hooker Mbonambi who loops round the back to dive over.

Masuku slots the conversion to put some space between the sides here in Durban (27-16).

SUBS

Dave Cherry and Ali Price come replace Ewan Ashman and Ben Vellacott.

PEN - Masuku

Sharks cross the paint at the corner to dot down but it’s chalked off for a forward pass.

With penalty advantage they have a few options, once of which is to add another three through Masuku, which they duly take (20-16).

Pen - Masuku

Masuka takes the three and puts his side back in the lead.

Into the danger zone

Pressure on now as Sharks throw in from the Edinburgh 5m line and bar up.

They lose possession with penalty advantage and opt to get back in front from the tee.

Lots of little battles

A lot of intrigue throughout the game and its sub contexts – the scrum emerging as one of them as both front-row contort, squeeze and claim their opponents are up to no good.

A Sharks knock on means this time it’ll be Edinburgh’s feed but the storied South African front-row turns it over to win a huge penalty against the head at scrum time.

Back underway

Sharks get us back underway from the restart here in Durban. 40 minutes stands between both sides and place in the final four.

COME ON EDINBURGH!!!

📸 Action

Elsewhere - Clermont 20-14 Ulster

Elsewhere in the EPCR Challenge Cup, Clermont lead Ulster 20-14.

As it stands we’d be traveling to France to play for a place in the final but there’s an awful lot of rugby to be played yet in both matches.

HALF-TIME: Sharks 14-16 Edinburgh

Edinburgh head into the dressing room with a two-point lead thanks to the boot of Ben Healy and a try from loosehead Pierre Schoeman.

A good all round display from the visitors who will face a Sharks team back to a full complement after the interval (14-16)

PEN - Healy!

Lovely clean strike from Ben Healy who retakes the lead for the capital men from the tee.

Sharks turnover

Superb break from the lightening quick Ben Vellacott, carried on by Mark Bennett, before Sharks are pinged for not releasing.

After some on-field discussion, Ben Healy points to the sticks (14-13).

Both teams tiring

Both teams tiring a little now amidst the heat, sweat and the frenetic exchanges – a couple of errors emerge  and it’s Edinburgh who end up with the put-in on the Sharks 10m line.

Not long left in the half or the yellow (14-13).

CON - Healy

Stand-off Ben Healy makes no mistake with the extras (14-13).

TTTTRRRYYYY SCHOEMAN!!!!!

A lovely little dummy from the big man who powers over from short range.

A big moment there and the players executed excellently to recapture some ground.

Edinburgh battle back straight away

Edinburgh get so close through Gilchrist as they blaze a trail through the Sharks defensive line.

The hosts’ cover defence is penalised again, right at the 5m line. Someone is going to the bin, the official double checks who to send away for 10 minutes, and it’s Etzebeth.

Edinburgh kick for a 5m lineout and maul…

Try - James Venter

Strong interplay from the hosts who recapture the chip and chase as was so successful earlier. More work to do this time as Etzebeth carries hard and offloads from contact to Venter to cross at the corner.

Masuku adds the extras (14-6).

Ashman held up

NO TRY – On-field decision stands (no-try) as Ashman crosses the line with Eben Etzebeth underneath him. Sharks have the goal-line drop out (7-6).

Edinburgh camped on the Sharks 5m...

Edinburgh’s big men pounding away at the Sharks defensive line, another pen awarded by the referee who give the hosts another talking to.

Edinburgh doing well building the pressure and go for the quick tap under the posts…

Try - Am

Sharks blitz back against Edinburgh as Springboks Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am combine – Mapimpi racing on to collect his own kick and passing back inside to Am to cross.

Masuku makes amends for the earlier miss with the extras (7-6).

PEN - Healy!

Fantastic turnover from big Bill Mata around the Sharks 10m line, doing superbly to get over the ball.

Healy lines up and converts the opportunity superbly from distance to double the lead (0-6).

Missed pen

Sharks continue to knock at the door 10 metres out from the Edinburgh line but prolonged defensive resolve from the hosts is ultimately undone by an infringement.

Siya Masuku misses a sitter to level the game (0-3).

Pressure continues on Edinburgh line

Sharks chip over top in penalty advantage, Goosen wins the foot race to the ball but has to carry over and dot down behind the line.

Sharks scrum down on the Edinburgh 5m line… (0-3)

Edinburgh relief as Sharks smell blood

Edinburgh concede a penalty at scrum time, which results in a 5m lineout to the hosts however they are then equal to the resulting attack and earn a scrum deep in their half after a Sharks error. Need to exit well here… (0-3)

PEN - Healy!

Ben Healy gets Edinburgh into credit with the three-pointer (0-3).

Deliberate and direct

Strong running from Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman makes good inroads into the Sharks territory before the hosts are forced to infringe.

Healy points to the posts…

Into the red zone

A great kick-off and chase results in a red-zone lineout for the visitors who build phases in the Sharks 22 before being penalised.

The kick doesn’t make touch so Edinburgh send the ball back long…

KICK-OFF

Ben Healy hoists the ball high and we’re underway here in the Durban heat for the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final! LET’S GO EDINBURGH!

Last lap before go time...

Less than half an hour to go...

Less than 30 minutes to go in Durban. A place in the semi-final against Clermont or Ulster awaits the winner.

That match kicks off at the same time today, so we’ll know (if successful) if we’re to travel to Clermont or host Ulster.

Preparation underway approaching kick-off

Gilchrist ready to (double) ton up

Shark infested waters 🇿🇦🦈