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LIVE: DHL WP v Cell C Sharks

PUBLISHED: January 23, 2021


Follow all the action from the Carling Currie Cup semifinal between DHL Western Province and the Cell C Sharks at DHL Newlands right here with our live updates.

The teams are warming up in clear but windy conditions at DHL Newlands. With the Vodacom Bulls having won their semifinal in Pretoria, the winner of this game will travel up to Loftus Versfeld for the Carling Currie Cup Final next week.

0 – Kick off at a clear but breezy DHL Newlands for the Carling Currie Cup semifinal between DHL WP and the Cell C Sharks. The stands may be empty, but we know the Faithful are here with the team as they put it all on the line in the next 80 mins.

3 – The kick-off does not go 10 metres and DHL WP have a scrum on halfway, but the Cell C Sharks are awarded a penalty which Curwin Bosch kicks over to put them 3-0 up.

7 – DHL WP win a scrum and then kick it deep into opposition territory. The Cell C Sharks are forced to play from their own 22 and kick a high ball. Willmese fields it but he is isolated and the Sharks win a penalty.

10 – Bosch has a shot at goal from inside his own half and it just sneaks over to put the Cell C Sharks 6-0 up.

13 – Another breakdown penalty awarded to the visitors and Bosch slots another kick from just inside his own half to take their lead out to 9-0.

18 – DHL WP playing all the rugby in opposition territory into the wind, but a line-out goes stray and another breakdown call goes against them.

20 – The ball is knocked into touch by Bosch, so Swiel kicks into the corner and DHL WP maul. It goes to the backline but the ball goes loose and the Sharks clear it.

23 – DHL WP have a scrum on halfway and win a penalty. Swiel kicks it into the corner and the Sharks are offside so he kicks it into the corner again as they go for the try.

25 – The maul peels off and the ball is lost forward in the tackle by Jantjies so the Sharks can clear from a scrum. DHL WP have a line-out 30 metres out and will come again.

30 – The Sharks give away a series of penalties as DHL WP camp in the corner of the field. Loosehead prop Nche is eventually shown a yellow card, but the visitors win the ball and can clear the pressure.

32 – Tim Swiel kicks a penalty to reduce the visitors lead to 9-3.

37 – Another penalty at scrum-time and another penalty from the boot of Tim Swiel cuts the Cell C Sharks’ advantage to 9-6 just before half-time.

40 – Half-time at DHL Newlands where DHL WP have dominated territory and possession and go into the break 9-6 down against the Cell C Sharks. Big second half coming up in this Carling Currie Cup semifinal.

41 – Second half underway at DHL Newlands, with DHL WP looking to continue the territorial dominance that they ended the first half with.

43 – The Cell C Sharks go offside early in the second half and Tim Swiel slots his third penalty to level the scores at 9-9 with 37 mins left to play in this semifinal at DHL Newlands.

47 – Drop-goal from Curwin Bosch puts the visitors back in the lead with a 12-9 advantage over DHL WP. Still 32 mins to play in this tight semifinal at DHL Newlands.

52 – DHL WP hold out well on defence, win a scrum and then win a penalty to move into Sharks territory, but the line-out is not straight, so the Sharks have the scrum this time.

59 – Both teams throwing absolutely everything at each other. A few gaps starting to open up on the edges, but committed defence from both teams means that this game is still in the balance with 20 mins left to play.

63 – DHL WP win a scrum penalty on halfway and kick into the 22. They maul it and it goes down, but the Sharks are awarded a penalty and they can clear to halfway.

68 – The Sharks move upfield as DHL WP give away a few penalties this time and Ernst van Rhyn is shown a yellow card this time so the home side are down to 14 men.

70 – The Cell C Sharks go over in the corner, but the try is disallowed and DHL WP can clear it. Three points down with 10 mins left at DHL Newlands.

74 – The Cell C Sharks force their way over for the first try of the match and that takes their lead at DHL Newlands out to 19-9 with six minutes left to play in this semifinal.

76 – DHL WP win a scrum on halfway and then win a penalty. Swiel kicks it into the corner and they look for a try of their own.

80 – Full-time at DHL Newlands where DHL WP fought hard, but have gone down 19-9 against the Cell C Sharks in their Carling Currie Cup semifinal.