Sharks held by Rebels
There were two red and three yellow cards but no tries as the Cell Sharks and Rebels drew 9-9 on Saturday in a dull Super Rugby match.
Sharks teenage fly-half Curwin Bosch thought he had won the match after giving his team the lead for the first time with a 78th-minute penalty in Durban.
But the Rebels levelled after the full-time hooter sounded in the round 9 game when full-back Reece Hodge calmly slotted an angled, medium-range penalty
Bosch and Hodge were the only scorers, kicking three penalties each in the least entertaining match at Kings Park stadium this season.
South African referee Marius van der Westhuizen yellow-carded Rebels skipper and scrum-half Nic Stirzaker after five minutes for a deliberate knock-on.
After 18 minutes, he showed Sharks centre Andre Esterhuizen a red card for a dangerous tackle on winger Sefenaia Naivalu.
Esterhuizen grabbed the giant Fijian around the throat and flung him face-first to the ground.
Amid the indiscipline, Hodge kicked two penalties and Bosch one to leave the Rebels 6-3 ahead at half-time.
Substitute Rebels hooker James Hanson walked to the sin-bin on 53 minutes for deliberately collapsing a maul.
A pushover try by the South Africans was disallowed a minute later and the Australians awarded a penalty when lock Ruan Botha was penalised for foul play.
Amazingly, given the punishment meted to Esterhuizen, the substitute forward grabbed an opponent around the throat and was fortunate to remain on the field.
Stirzaker was yellow-carded again for another intentional knock-on with 11 minutes left and an automatic red card followed.
In the battle of the boots, Bosch kicked his second penalty on 64 minutes to restore equality ahead of the dramatic climax to the game.
"Drawing was not a bad result given we struggled to string together multi-phase attacks," said Stirzaker.
"The yellow and red cards slowed the match down and the defences were dominant throughout."
Sharks skipper and loose forward Lubabalo "Tera" Mtembu said his team felt they had lost even despite collecting two points.
"We never gained momentum and let our supporters down," he admitted. "If we play like this against the Jaguares in Argentina next weekend, we will be in big trouble."
Sharks are four points above the Jaguares in what appears to be a two-team race to finish as the best runners-up in the Africa conferences and reach the knockout phase.
Rebels remained bottom of the Australian standings, but after five straight losses they have taken six points by shocking the Brumbies and holding the Sharks.
But the Rebels levelled after the full-time hooter sounded in the round 9 game when full-back Reece Hodge calmly slotted an angled, medium-range penalty
Bosch and Hodge were the only scorers, kicking three penalties each in the least entertaining match at Kings Park stadium this season.
South African referee Marius van der Westhuizen yellow-carded Rebels skipper and scrum-half Nic Stirzaker after five minutes for a deliberate knock-on.
After 18 minutes, he showed Sharks centre Andre Esterhuizen a red card for a dangerous tackle on winger Sefenaia Naivalu.
Esterhuizen grabbed the giant Fijian around the throat and flung him face-first to the ground.
Amid the indiscipline, Hodge kicked two penalties and Bosch one to leave the Rebels 6-3 ahead at half-time.
Substitute Rebels hooker James Hanson walked to the sin-bin on 53 minutes for deliberately collapsing a maul.
A pushover try by the South Africans was disallowed a minute later and the Australians awarded a penalty when lock Ruan Botha was penalised for foul play.
Amazingly, given the punishment meted to Esterhuizen, the substitute forward grabbed an opponent around the throat and was fortunate to remain on the field.
Stirzaker was yellow-carded again for another intentional knock-on with 11 minutes left and an automatic red card followed.
In the battle of the boots, Bosch kicked his second penalty on 64 minutes to restore equality ahead of the dramatic climax to the game.
"Drawing was not a bad result given we struggled to string together multi-phase attacks," said Stirzaker.
"The yellow and red cards slowed the match down and the defences were dominant throughout."
Sharks skipper and loose forward Lubabalo "Tera" Mtembu said his team felt they had lost even despite collecting two points.
"We never gained momentum and let our supporters down," he admitted. "If we play like this against the Jaguares in Argentina next weekend, we will be in big trouble."
Sharks are four points above the Jaguares in what appears to be a two-team race to finish as the best runners-up in the Africa conferences and reach the knockout phase.
Rebels remained bottom of the Australian standings, but after five straight losses they have taken six points by shocking the Brumbies and holding the Sharks.
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre