Hollywoodbets sharks vs ospreys
United Rugby Championship
hollywoodbets kings park stadium
9th May 2025
Hollywoodbets Sharks win in Durban despite brave Ospreys performance. Ospreys put in a huge defensive shift but the Sharks had too much in the tank and battled to a 29 - 10 victory at home.
The Ospreys started off sharp. After a massive turnover by Morgan Morse in Hollywoodbets Sharks territory, Dan Edwards was able to put the Ospreys into an early three-point lead. Hollywoodbets Sharks 0 - 3 Ospreys.
The following five minutes saw Sharks control a lot of the possession but some tenacious defending from the boys meant that they often found themselves kicking after a few phases without penetration.
After a scrum penalty gave the hosts good field possession from a lineout, the home team were eventually able to get the first try of the game through a Jason Jenkins carry near the line with Masuku adding the conversion. Hollywoodbets Sharks 7 - 3 Ospreys
It looked like the Ospreys had scored their first try after some solo brilliance down the blindside from Kieran Hardy, but it was chalked off after a TMO review for a knock on deemed he had just lost control of the ball.
The Ospreys began to win the scrum battle after conceding an early penalty, with some top work early on from the boys in the front row. Dewi went close to scoring off a smart lineout move down the blindside, but he was just about tackled into touch before he could dot it down, with a strong tackle coming in from eventual player of the match, Ethan Hooker.
With 20 minutes played, the Ospreys were right in the game, asking questions of the Hollywoodbets Sharks in both defence and attack. Both teams were contesting strongly in the aerial battle in the first half, chasing well and putting constant pressure on every kick.
Despite some quality redzone defence from the boys, the Sharks team added to their try tally with five minutes to go in the first half. The Ospreys began to push the Sharks back but a loose ball from the breakdown eventually fell to Andre Esterhuizen, who was able to take his chance and finish, Masuku adding the conversion. Hollywoodbets Sharks 14 - 3 Ospreys.
On the stroke of half time, it looked like the boys were going to score in the right corner after a well worked move from the backs, but the Hollywoodbets Shark’s scramble defence was just able to recover to end the half.
HALF TIME – Hollywoodbets Sharks 14, Ospreys 3.
On a special week for Jac Morgan, he was putting in a special performance to match the occasion. A break from the home side saw them with good field position, but a momentum killing turnover from our skipper meant that we were able to clear their lines. In true Jac style, he did the same again five minutes later.
The Sharks pressure did eventually tell, and they were able to score a third try with 10 minutes gone in the second half with Ethan Hooker picking up a kick from Hendrikse, Masuku converting. Hollywoodbets Sharks 21 - 3 Ospreys.
The Postman contested everything in the air once again this week, and made it very difficult for the home team to recover or build anything from kicks that came their way.
With just over 55 minutes on the clock, Reubs spotted a gap in the home team’s backfield and dinked it through. A good chase from Dan Eds and a supporting crew looked like it forced a turnover on the 5, but the decision went the other way.
Despite a new front row being on the field, the Ospreys continued to dominate the Hollywoodbets Sharks at scrum time, and once again giving the Ospreys good field position.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! The pack made use of the field position and their rolling maul made light work of the five metres they had to gain, Sam Parry getting the score that was converted by Dan Eds. Hollywoodbets Sharks 21 - 10 Ospreys.
With Ospreys seemingly in the ascendency, the home team quickly replied after a cross-field kick was recovered by Mapimpi and popped inside to Phepsi Buthelezi for the try. Hollywoodbets Sharks 26 - 10 Ospreys.
The game quickly became loose after that, with the boys looking to run it from deep and to try and regain some momentum and impose themselves on the end of the game. However, Sharks were also putting on pressure and looking for the final score, but resolute defence from the boys held them out, with Sam Parry putting in a huge shift in particular.
Sharks ended the game earning a penalty, which they kicked.
FULL TIME: Hollywoodbets Sharks 29 - 10 Ospreys.
Up next, the boys face Emirates Lions in the final league game of the URC season on Saturday 17th May at the Emirates Airline Park.
