The Hollywoodbets Sharks beat DHL Western Province 29-21 (halftime 12-14) in their Carling Currie Cup clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Friday evening.
It took a cagey opening quarter for the visitors to break the deadlock in a stodgy affair, with wet and slippery conditions compounding the on-field huffing and puffing. Both sides struggled to build momentum, and the match remained scoreless until the 20th minute, when Western Province capitalised on an offside advantage to score the opening try through Paul de Villiers.
Four minutes later, Ezekiel Ngobeni chased down a well-weighted grubber to dot down for the visitors’ second, with Kyle Smith converting both to stretch the lead to 14-0.
But the Sharks found their spark in the final 10 minutes of the half. First, Philo Sobahle pounced on a misjudged kick from Tristan Leyds to score in the 30th minute. Jean Smith missed the conversion, but the momentum had shifted.
Then, after the hooter had gone, Smith produced a clever kick that allowed Jaco Williams to wriggle through and dot down after plucking the ball out of the night sky. Smith made no mistake with the extras this time, and the hosts were within two points at the break.
Jaco Williams snatches out of the Durban sky 👏
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 22, 2025
What a way to score your first-ever #CurrieCup try 🤩👇
📺 Stream #CurrieCup on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/GWUlnTYOxq
The Sharks carried that momentum into the second half, striking early through Lee Mazibuko, who powered over after three close-range carries in the 44th minute. Smith added the conversion to give the hosts their first lead of the match.
By the 62nd minute, the home side had extended their advantage. After sustained pressure and repeated phases inside the WP 22, Bathobele Hlekani picked and drove over from close range to score the Sharks’ fourth try. Smith’s reliable boot added some more cushion, pushing the score to 26-14.
Western Province hit back in the 66th minute through Brendan Venter, who finished off a well-worked passage to narrow the gap. Replacement Ronald Brown slotted the conversion to make it 26-21.
Brendon Venter is the quickest to react 🏉⚡
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 22, 2025
He goes over for DHL Western Province 👇
📺 Stream #CurrieCup on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/PybAaTiQEj
But the Sharks responded with composure, earning a penalty in the 73rd minute which Smith calmly slotted to stretch the lead to 29-21, a vital buffer that held firm through the final exchanges.
Scorers:
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS – Tries: Philo Sobahle, Jaco Williams, Lee Mazibuko, Bathobele Hlekani; Conversions: Jean Smith (3); Penalties: Smith.
DHL WESTERN PROVINCE – Tries: Paul de Villiers, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Brendan Venter; Conversions: Kyle Smith (2), Ronald Brown
