Dragons Back Row Ross Moriarty is taken off the field at Kings Park
| Sharks (23) 51 |
| Tries: Mbonambi, Nch, Kok, Penalty Attempt 2, Volmink Disadvantage: bosch 4 Pencils: bosch 3 |
| Dragons (3) 3 |
| Pen: Lewis |
Ross Moriarty suffered a serious-looking injury as the Dragons suffered a second straight loss on a difficult night against the Sharks in South Africa.
The Dragons more than held their own until Moriarty was forced off in significant pain in the first half.
The Haie’s response was attempts from Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche before Werner Kok made a good individual try, two penalties and Anthony Volmink’s result sealed a bonus point win.
It was a humiliating evening for Dragons, yellow carding three players and trailing one 55-20 loss to Bulls last week.
Moriarty had been one of nine substitutions for the Dragons to lose at Loftus Versfeld.
For the Sharks, the win was the perfect answer afterwards defeat in the last game against Edinburgh, who became the first club from the northern hemisphere to win a game of the United Rugby Championship in South Africa.
Curwin Bosch’s two penalties gave the Sharks a 6-0 lead, but the Dragons responded with a Josh Lewis penalty.
Another Bosch penalty restored the home side’s six-point lead before the Dragons were dealt a serious blow after Moriarty suffered what appeared to be a serious-looking knee injury.
The back row seemed very uncomfortable as he received treatment long before he was taken off the field.
Shortly after Moriarty’s exit, the Sharks’ forwards showed their strength and Prop Nche went over the goal from close range to open the scoring.
Within three minutes, Sharks had made a second attempt, with South African hooker Mbonambi scoring after a driving maul and Bosch adding a second conversion.
Kok ran to a brilliant third try for Sharks, although his work was made easier by some questionable Dragons defences.
Bosch’s move earned the hosts up to 30 points before Sharks secured a bonus point.
They were awarded a penalty try after a deliberate knock by fly-half Lewis illegally stopped a try and he received a yellow card for his actions.
Dragons were reduced to 14 men, with scrum half Lewis Jones also yellow carded for another deliberate knock and Sharks awarded a second penalty try.
The Sharks took full advantage of their numerical advantage and full-back Volmink punished the Wales side to attempt a try before Bosch added the extras.
They should have scored another try, but a knock from Nche stopped a promising move that had been triggered by Bosch’s chipkick.
Dragons struggled to get into the Sharks’ 22, particularly in the second half, and Ben Fry’s late yellow card – Dragons’ third of the night – summed up their evening.
sharks: Anthony Volmink; Werner Kok, Ben Tapuai, Jeremy Ward, Makazole Mapimpi; Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit (Captain), Le Roux Roets, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter, Jeandre Labushagne, Phepsi Buthelezi.
Replacement: Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Khutha Mchunu, Reneel Hugo, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Siya Kolisi, Grant Williams, Boeta Chamberlain.
dragons: Ioan Davies; Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Jack Dixon, Jordan Olowofela; Josh Lewis, Rhodri Williams; Greg Bateman, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Joe Davies, Will Rowlands, Harri Keddie (Captain), Ben Fry, Ross Moriarty
Replacement: Taylor Davies, Aki Seiuli, Mesake Doge, Huw Taylor, Taine Basham, Lewis Jones, Will Reed, Jordan Williams
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)
assistants: Cwengile Jadezweni & Morne Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
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