XOLILE MPISANE
I-CELL C Sharks iwakhuphulile amathuba okuba yiqembu elivelele laseNingizimu Afrika, kwi-United Rugby Championship (URC) ngoMgqibelo ebusuku, ngokutalabha i-Emirates Lions ngo 37-10 eHollywoodbets Kings Park.
Njengoba sekusele imidlalo emithathu yamaqoqo, iStormers yilona qembu elihamba phambili emaqenjini akuleli ngamaphuzu angu-47, kulandele iSharks ngawu-46.
IBulls isekhona embangweni ngoba inamaphuzu angu-43 kodwa sekuyabheda kwiLions esahlanganise angu-30 kuphela.
Iqembu elizothatha indebe yeSouth African Shield kulo mqhudelwano, lizozibekisela indawo kwiChampions Cup ezodlalwa ngasekupheleni kwalo nyaka.
Yize beliyidliva, iSharks iqale ngomfutho yasheshe yagadla kwiLions ngama-try abekwe nguGerbrandt Grobler noPhendulani Buthelezi.
ILions inciphise igebe ngephenathi kaJordan Hendrikse kodwa iqembu lasekhaya laphendula ngelayo phenathi eshaywe nguCurwin Bosch, kwayiwa ekhefini lihamba phambili ngo 17-3.
UBosch uyibeke phakathi enye iphenathi ngasekuqaleni kwesiwombe sesibili ngaphambi kokuthi uBongi Mbonambi ashaye i-try yesithathu, sekusele imizuzu engu-20 kuphele umdlalo.
EzikaSean Everitt zithole i-try yesine, ehambisana nephuzu elengeziwe, ngesikhathi uSikhumbuzo Notshe ewela umugqa ngomzuzu ka-70.
Izivakashi zithole umthobanhliziyo nge-try kaHenco Van Wyk kodwa umcimbi uvalwe enye iphenathi kaBosch, obengalibheki ipali kulo mdlalo.
“Umdlalo wethu usuyahlangana. Ngesonto eledlule sishaye ama-try ayisithupha, kuleli siphinde sakwazi ukuthola iphuzu elengeziwe sangenelwa yi-try eyodwa kuphela," kusho u-Everitt.
"Iyathembisa indlela esithuthuka ngayo njengoba isondela imidlalo yomkhumulajezi.“
Komunye umdlalo we-URC obudlalelwa kuleli, iDHL Stormers iguqise iVodacom Bulls ngo 19-17, eCape Town Stadium. Bekungokwesibili beshaya leli qembu laseTswane, kulo mqhudelwano ngoba balithela phansi ngo 30-26 eLoftus.
IStormers isendaweni yesihlanu kwilog enkulu, iSharks isendaweni yesithupha kanti iBulls ikweyesishiyagalombili. Amaqembu ayisishiyagalombili azoqeda phezulu ekupheleni kweyamaqoqo azodlulela kuma-quarterfinal.
Mancane amathuba okuthi iLions ifinyelele kweyomkhumulajezi njengoba isacothoza endaweni ka-12, ngamaphuzu angu-30.
ILeinster yase-Ireland, isaqhwakele ngamaphuzu angu-60 emidlalweni engu-15, kanti iZebre yase-Italy, igida ndawonye emsileni ngamaphuzu amabili kuphela.