Despite four tries to Griquas flyer Bjorn Basson at the Stadium last night, the Sharks still managed to secure a 48-30 bonus-point victory and maintain their winning streak in the Currie Cup.

Basson’s fourth try late in the match brought the Kimberley side within eight points of the Sharks, but in the final movement Craig Burden went over for the fifth try for the coastal franchise, with Sharks flyhalf Pat Lambie having kicked his fifth penalty just minutes earlier, while the conversion of Burden’s try was his fourth of the night.

Earlier in the half, Sharks fullback Monty Dumond had gone over for the bonus-point fourth try, but it was really Basson who stole the show in the second half with three tries in the final 40 minutes.

The Sharks opened the scoring early on, with Lambie slotting an easy penalty in the third minute, and he then made the first try when he made a break and sent the pass to Stefan Terblanche, who cantered over for the first try.

Lambie converted and it was 10-0. Not long after, Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira was over after another superb build up, and the Sharks were up 17-0 at the quarter hour mark.

Bjorn Basson hit back for Griquas, though, with an opportunistic steal of the ball in a tackle and he broke away to score under the posts.

The Sharks quickly cancelled that out as Odwa Ndungane was put away by Monty Dumond for the Sharks’ third try on the half hour mark.

Riaan Viljoen and Lambie exchanged a penalty before half-time as the Sharks went into the break with a 25-10 advantage.

After the break, Lambie added two more penalties as the Sharks looked to consolidate their lead, with Griquas flyhalf Naas Olivier getting three back to make it 31-13.

It was then the Basson show, but his three second half tries were ultimately not enough.

Final Score Sharks 48 Griquas 30

Scorers

Sharks
Tries: Stefan Terblanche, Tendai Mtawarira, Odwa Ndungane, Monty Dumond, Craig Burden
Conversions: Pat Lambie (4)
Penalties: Pat Lambie (5)

Griquas
Tries: Bjorn Basson (4)
Conversions: Naas Olivier (2)
Penalties: Riaan Viljoen, Naas Olivier