Gloucester v Sharks: Key Moments
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A beautiful night in London saw Gloucester, a team familiar with the Challenge Cup finals, facing South African outfit, the Sharks, who made history by being the first South African side to make the finals. Both teams have not performed how they would’ve liked in their respective domestic competitions, and this was a much-needed reminder of what they are capable of.
Let us have a look at some of the moments that defined the game.
6’ Sharks were under pressure in the opening minutes of the game being pinned in their own half and conceded 4 penalties. Aphelele Fassi receives a yellow card for 4th penalty conceded.
8’ The pressure almost pays off as Harris stretches for line, but Etzebeth slides in to stop the try. The sharks win the scrum and get a penalty out of it to for a chance to relieve the pressure and get out of their danger zone.
13’ Gloucester concedes another penalty from the scrum just outside their 22 and Sharks take the points.
25’ Buthelezi gets an offload from Koch, breaks through a couple of tackles and sells the dummy to go over the try line.
54’ The Sharks score a try after breaking down the Gloucester defence with a kick over the top and going through the phases.
57’ The Cherry and Whites get a lineout on the Sharks 5m line and maul it over the try line to give them a glimmer of hope of making a comeback.
59’ An up and under from Williams is knocked on by Carreras and the Sharks win it back, Masuku spots the open space and gives a beautiful cross kick to Mapimpi who goes over the line comfortably to further take the game away from the Cherry and Whites.
75’ Gloucester playing with freedom in the last 10 minutes and manage to score 2 tries but it’s a little too late for them.
A brilliant performance from the Sharks earn them the victory as they become the first South African Club to win the Challenge Cup.
