Mike Greenaway
SPRINGBOK and Sharks scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse showed some deft touches but, more importantly, came through his comeback match against Griquas yesterday unscathed.
Hendrikse helped orchestrate some enterprising play in the Sharks’ impressive 40-21 Currie Cup defeat of the courageous men from Kimberley.
In fact, Hendrikse opened the scoring with a neat dummy and dart over the Griquas’ line from a ruck. It was a nice “welcome back” for the 24-year-old after four months of injury. The Sharks exploded into a 21-0 lead after tries by Hakeem Kunene and Eduan Keyter, thanks to neat passing by flyhalf Lionel Cronje.
Griquas were in danger of being overwhelmed but their spirits were lifted when flanker Marco de Witt burst through a gap for a try, only for De Witt’s opposite number, Jannes Potgieter, to score from the restart.
On the point of half-time, rising Sharks star Jurenzo Julius scored a 50-metre try and that should have killed off any hope of a Griquas’ fightback at 35-7. But Sharks coach JP Pietersen’s pre-game warning that “Griquas are a side that never goes away” proved correct.
They scored first in the second half via explosive centre Sango Xamlashe and, with their confidence growing, there was an excellent finish to a backline movement by wing Dylan Maart. Sharks hooker Ethan Bester burst through a maul near the Griquas line to calm matters down at 40-21.
Earlier in the weekend, the Lions were too strong for the Pumas at Emirates Airline Park, overwhelming the Mpumalanga team 55-12. The Lions often struggle to subdue the Pumas but Jaco Visagie’s pack got on top quickly and the tries flowed.
At Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls predictably outclassed the Griffons 55-21 but the team from Welkom showed some grit in scoring three good tries. The Bulls scored nine tries in cementing their place at the top of the log while maintaining their unbeaten status.
The Cheetahs produced a mild upset in winning away from home against Western Province, 26-19. Ironically, they handled the wet conditions better than the Capetonians and fought back from 0-13 down to nail a vital win, with the telling score coming with 10 minutes to go when tough flank Juandre Rudolph rumbled over.
This weekend, the Pumas host the Bulls on Friday evening (5.15pm). On Saturday, Western Province travel to the Lions (3pm) and the Cheetahs are at home to the Sharks (5.15pm). The Sunday game is in Welkom, where the Griffons host Griquas at 3pm.