Flanker Tino Mavesere scored an astounding four tries as the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV kept their slim hopes of reaching the Carling Currie Cup play-offs alive with a 53-22 (halftime 36-7) victory over the Vodacom Bulls XV in a final-round match played at Kings Park, Durban on Friday.
The Zimbabwe international, who is an integral part of Sables head coach Pieter Benade’s Rugby World Cup 2027 plans, dotted down in the fifth, 12th, 32nd and 66th minutes as the home side gave an enthusiastic Durban crowd plenty to cheer about on a balmy evening, their powerful first-half showing leaving the never-say-die visitors with just too much to do after the break.
Tino Mavesere FOUR the win! 4️⃣
— Sharks Rugby Club (@SharksRugby) August 28, 2026
A superb victory to close out our Carling Currie Cup home stand. 🔥 🔥 🔥
The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV outplay the Vodacom Bulls XV at the Tank. 🥳
Thank you to those who came out and all who tuned in. 🙏 #SharksRugbyClub #BlackWhiteForever… pic.twitter.com/Bv0o8RjmgO
The win moves the Sharks XV up to fourth on the table (18 points) with just two round-robin matches remaining.
They and the Fidelity ADT Lions, who beat the DHL Stormers XXIII 36-12 in Johannesburg in Friday’s earlier match to move to third (20 points), will undoubtedly have their eyes glued to their TV screens on Saturday.
Both sides will be hoping that the high-flying Toyota Cheetahs, who have already booked a home semifinal, can beat the fifth-placed Airlink Pumas (17 points) and so possibly shut the gate on the Lowvelders’ campaign – while at the same time allowing the Sharks to sneak into the top four through the back door.
For the Bulls it will be a Currie Cup season to forget: played seven, lost seven for coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s brave but ultimately outgunned greenhorns.
The 27-year-old Mavesere’s heroics rubbed off on scrumhalf Ross Braude, who scored a first-half brace, and evergreen flyhalf Tim Swiel, who rolled back his 34 years with a wonderful break and burst of acceleration that carried him over the whitewash.
Fullback Luan Giliomee kicked three first-half conversions but it was his open-field running that had the fans on their feet: his wonderful feet and eye for a gap put Braude over for his first after 26 minutes – although the 20-year-old Junior Springbok world champion did show his human side when he hit the crossbar with a conversion attempt from bang in front.
For the Bulls, another 20-year-old Junior Bok, flanker Kebotile Maake, proved a constant menace but as a collective his team just could not gain a proper foothold in the match.
DESERVED MAN OF THE MATCH
The second half did see a mini Bulls resurgence – not for the first time this season – when centre Marnus Rademeyer powered through a desperate Lyle Matthews tackle to dive over in the left-hand corner after 45 minutes.
Replacement scrumhalf Brooklyn Newman then scooted over on the hour mark after excellent build-up work by his forwards and strong running from Rademeyer.
But that man Mavesere was not quite done, and he broke away from yet another rolling maul in the 66th minute to dot down underneath the sticks and leave the home fans scarcely able to believe what they were witnessing. Never has a man-of-the-match award been so easily decided!
“He’s name is Tino! ✍️
— Sharks Rugby Club (@SharksRugby) August 28, 2026
Our favourite Zimbo! 🇿🇼
He came to score, came to score, came to score four more! 4️⃣” pic.twitter.com/vaLeUO0e4s
In what proved to be a breathless conclusion to a thoroughly entertaining match, 20-year-old Bulls replacement back Xhanti Pongolo went over with 10 minutes remaining following a chaotic period of play.
Not to be outdone, Sharks replacement hooker Jacque Marais trundled on and then promptly thundered his way over for a brace in the final eight minutes to edge the Sharks over the half-century mark.
The world’s oldest provincial competition is going down to the wire and all eyes will be on Nelspruit and Wellington this weekend.
Sunday’s final fixture of the league stages will see the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers put it all on the line in front of what is sure to be a capacity home crowd against the defending champion Suzuki Griquas.
A bonus-point victory for the Bolanders would carry them into the playoffs – but as things stand things remain too close to call and myriad permutations remain on the table.
SCORERS:
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS XV 53 – Tries: Tino Mavesere (4), Ross Braude (2), Tim Swiel, Jacques Marais (2); Conversions: Luan Giliomee (4).
VODACOM BULLS XV 22 – Tries: Kebotile Maake, Marnus Rademeyer, Brooklyn Newman, Xhanti Pongolo; Conversion: Ian van der Merwe.
Duane Heath © Roots Rugby™