The Sharks claimed a hard-earned Currie Cup semi-final win over the Golden Lions at Johnson Kings Park on Saturday.
The Durbanites will face either Western Province or the Blue Bulls in next week’s final depending on the result of the second play-off later in the day.
Daniel du Preez got on the score sheet first after receiving an offload from Lwazi Mvovo to go over unopposed, before elder brother Robert added three points via the boot.
The Sharks were dominating possession and territory and scored again after Sbu Nkosi finished off a move he began in his own half.
Robert Du Preez and Elton Jantjies traded penalties as the hosts headed for the break with a handy 18-3 lead.
Crucially, it took just 15 seconds for the men in black and white to get off the mark in the second-half as Nkosi bagged his second immediately after the restart.
Skipper Nic Groom narrowed the deficit with a try after a scintillating break and subsequent offload from Lionel Mapoe before a passage of madness ensued.
Aphiwe Dyanti intercepted on his own five meter line before being reeled in by Aphelele Fassi inside Sharks territory. The replacement winger countered and passed to Hyron Andrews, who threw a speculative ball right into the hands of Courtnall Skosan, who cantered away to score.
Rob du Preez added three more points, but a clever cross-kick from Jantjies allowed Skosan to dot down to make it 26-24 with 10-minutes to play as the Lions remained on the comeback trail.
Dan du Preez’s second score from the back of a Sharks scrum, however, ensured the Sharks safe passage to a second-successive final.
Final Score: Sharks 33 – 24 Lions
Scores
Sharks
Tries: D du Preez (2), Nkosi (2)
Cons: R du Preez (3)
Pens: R du Preez (2)
Golden Lions
Tries: Groom, Skosan (2)
Cons: Jantjies (3)
Pens: Jantjies
Teams
Sharks:
15 Curwin Bosch, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (c), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Juan Schoeman.
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Luke Stringer, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Leolin Zas, 23 Aphelele Fassi.
Golden Lions:
15 Sylvian Mahuza, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom (c), 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pikkie de Villiers, 6 James Venter, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Sti Sithole.
16 Tiaan van der Merwe, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Chergin Fillies, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
