A URC-boosted Hollywoodbets Sharks finished their Carling Currie Cup campaign on a high by picking up a 19-13 win over the Airlink Pumas in both teams’ final pool match of the competition at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Friday night.

The result moves the Sharks up to sixth on the log for the time being, while the losing bonus point picked up by the Pumas moves them up to fourth on the log, just inside the playoff places.

But they are level on points with the ADT Fidelity Lions above them and Toyota Cheetahs below them, and will require the Lions to lose by a heavy margin against the Suzuki Griquas, or the Cheetahs to go down to the Vodacom Bulls, and neither to pick up losing bonus points, to hold onto their semifinal place.

In the match, both teams enjoyed a host of chances, but both made vital mistakes on numerous occasions and couldn’t take advantage of their opportunities, with the Sharks team in particular, fittingly looking like a side that hadn’t played a game in a while.

That led to a try-less first half, although both teams had players going over in the corner, only for the TMO to see both tackled into touch first before dotting down the ball.

That meant it was the Pumas that led 6-0 at halftime, thanks to two penalties from the boot of flyhalf Clinton Swart, during a period in which they had been reduced to 14 men.

It was Pumas hooker Eduan Swart who was sent to the bin in the 13th minute for a no-arms tackle, and the Sharks should have taken the lead after a monster scrum deep in their 22m, but they were unable to get over, while they also botched two lineouts, as the visitors cleared.

FULL-TIME. #CarlingCurrieCup #CurrieCup #SHAvPUM pic.twitter.com/2OEv3BHplZ

— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) September 5, 2025

That allowed the Pumas to take the lead against the run of play, Swart slotting penalties in the 19th and 23rd minutes, followed by no further points over the rest of the half.

The second half was then a bit more open, and it was the Sharks that finished better, getting in for three tries while the Pumas only managed one.

The first came in the 46th minute as the Sharks seized on a Pumas error in their own half, flyhalf Siya Masuku sent a lovely grubber ahead for fullback Yaw Penxe to chase, toe ahead and dot down the unconverted score.

In the 59th minute, the Sharks got their second, on attack in the Pumas' 22m, the ball went to replacement loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi, to step through the defence and dive over, with Masuku’s extras putting them into a 12-6 lead.

But the Pumas weren’t behind for long, as five minutes later, replacement lock JJ Scheepers broke down the middle of the field into the 22m before being tackled short. Eventually the recycled ball was superbly chipped by scrumhalf Ross Braude to wing Lundi Msenge out wide to catch and score, followed by Swart’s conversion putting them ahead again.

The back-and-forth half continued in the 68th minute as the Sharks retook the lead, attacking into the Pumas' 22m before inside centre Francois Venter ran a good line to burst through and score, and Masuku slotted the conversion to get them ahead 19-13.

Francois Venter punches a hole in the Airlink Pumas' defence 🏉💣

He wins it for the Hollywoodbets Sharks 🙌#SSRugby | #CurrieCup pic.twitter.com/JG5bLWrveB

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 5, 2025

The final 10 minutes were dominated by the hosts as they tried to seal the win, but a number of errors on the Pumas' tryline meant they couldn’t get another try.

Scorers

Hollywoodbets Sharks: Tries - Yaw Penxe, Phepsi Buthelezi, Francois Venter; Conversions - Siya Masuku (2)

Airlink Pumas: Try - Lundi Msenge; Conversion - Clinton Swart; Penalties - Swart (2)