Archive May 17, 2025

United Rugby Championship:

Sharks (3) 12

Pen: Masuku, Fassi 3

Scarlets (3) 3

Scarlets will travel to face Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off quarter-finals following a 12-3 defeat in a tryless encounter against Sharks in Durban.

Aphelele Fassi and Siya Masuku shared four penalties for Sharks while Scarlets responded with a Sam Costelow drop-goal.

A last-gasp penalty from Fassi meant Scarlets’ failure to gain a bonus point resulted in Dwayne Peel’s side staying eighth in the final URC table.

This means Scarlets will face top side Leinster in Dublin on Saturday, 31 May (15:00 BST).

Results on Friday night ensured Scarlets had sealed their play-off status before they started their final regular game of the season, with qualification for next season’s European Champions Cup also achieved.

Scarlets’ success was rewarded after consecutive bonus-point wins against Ospreys, Dragons, Leinster and Lions.

What Peel’s side did not know before kick-off in Durban was the opposition and destination of their quarter-final opposition, although they knew they faced an away game.

Scarlets will be hoping former Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies will be fit against Leinster after he suffered a rib injury in the victory against Lions.

Archie Hughes was given his first league start of the season and was given an early reminder of the level he was facing when his first kick was charged down by South Africa lock and Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth, who was living on the offside line all game.

There was no score in a cagey opening quarter with possession spilled by both sides.

Some of the first-half highlights included a searing break from Scarlets flanker Vaea Fifita, while his fellow back rower Taine Plumtree was a lively influence against a side coached by his father John.

Wales centre Joe Roberts, on his 50th Scarlets appearance, collected possession before releasing Hughes who was chased down by Springboks wing Makazole Mapimpi just short of the line.

Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe, who was named in an upcoming Springboks’ alignment camp, was the first of the second-half replacements when he came on for Ryan Elias.

With Masuku forced off the field injured, Fassi took over the kicking duties and slotted over two successful penalties as the defiant Scarlets defence held out the home attack.

Scarlets had chances to score a late try. but could not capitalise on late pressure.

Sharks head coach John Plumtree: “There was no rugby played here tonight.

“Defences dominated attack and there was plenty of inaccuracy from both sides so it was just one of those games we had to get over the line somehow.

“We know we need to improve on that, but fair play to the Scarlets, they were just so tough and have improved in all aspects of the game.”

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “It was brutal. I am super proud of the effort we put in.

“It was a real scrap and fight with both defences on top and the ball was wet and greasy.

Sharks: Aphelele Fassi; Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Emile van Heerden, Tino Mavesere, Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi.

Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, Nick Hatton, Bradley Davids, Francois Venter, Yaw Penxe.

Scarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes; Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Griffin Colby & Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)

Gallagher Premiership

Bath (19) 43

Spencer, Obano, Roux, Dunn, Stuart, Cokanasiga, Butt Cons: Russell 4

Leicester (15) 15

In a fiery top-of-the-table encounter with Tigers of Leicester, Leaders Bath defeated leaders Bath 43-15 to set up a significant milestone in the Premiership’s final weekend.

Leicester must wait until the final league game in two weeks before making a playoff debut following a second half defeat that saw the Tigers hold them to a scoreless draw.

After tries from Ben Spencer, Beno Obano, and Quinn Roux, Leicester responded with tries from Joseph Woodward and Adam Radwan, and Bath won 19-15.

However, a showpiece intercepted effort from Joe Cokanasiga and Will Butt’s last-minute score sealed a statement victory in a dominant second 40 minutes with tries from Tom Dunn and Will Stuart.

In their final game on May 31st, Leicester will face bottom-of-the-table Newcastle at home, five points clear of Gloucester in fifth.

Despite being three weeks away from the Twickenham spectacle, the match started with all the tension of a Premiership final. Two of the league’s most competitive packs faced off against one another.

After four minutes, Spencer threw a dummy to close the gap left by Handre Pollard, who had already scored, into the corner to give Leicester the lead.

The Tigers’ defense was superb as Julian Montoya skillfully held them over the line after Ollie Chessum’s early yellow card for head contact on Will Muir then appeared to hand Bath the initiative.

Leicester came out of the period with 14 men better, as Jack van Poortvliet picked out Woodward with a cross-field kick in space to give Tigers an 8-5 lead, knowing that just one point from the match would put them in second place.

Hill initially thought he had pulled one back for Bath, but it was offside, with Obano then heading over as the score returned to the home side.

Leicester forced Bath to endure wave after wave of pressure, made worse by Dunn’s yellow card for head contact on Hanro Liebenberg.

The excellent covering tackle from Radwan almost immediately put him in again, but Hill’s excellent coverage tackle saw Bath finish the half with a run in under the posts.

As Bath turned the tables in the second half, Dunn’s celebration on his club-record 184th appearance was savoured by the home fans after his earlier yellow was disappointing.

Leicester were penned back deep by their own line as Bath’s replacements have consistently proved to be a major difference this season.

After one crucial Bath try was ruled out for a knock-on, Stuart scored Bath’s fifth try from close range to all but seal the victory.

Johann van Graan, the head of rugby at Bath, stated to BBC Radio Bristol:

We gave an 80-minute performance, stating that “we had a good 40 minutes of fighting between two of the best teams in the Premiership.”

We only had a few chances, but I adore the hunger. We continued to punch, and for the final 20 minutes, we were outstanding.

The final try at the end demonstrated what we were all about: it was difficult to beat until it was over. Everyone at the Rec is welcome, and I’m happy.

Michael Cheika, the head coach of the Tigers of Leicester, told BBC Radio Leicester:

I believed our defense team worked really hard. They did score a few tries at the end, but they won because the line-out, we drop a ball, and they ran the length.

“We simply didn’t have the extra edge in attack, even though I thought we were quite physical,” he said.

Through our own fault and Bath’s excellent play, we played a lot of the second half in our own half.

“Early on, we scored a few good tries, and I thought at half-time that we were in the game. I think you need to make sure you nail as many chances as you can while putting the pressure on them,” said one player.

Replacements: Green, Ojomoh, Van Wyk, Van Wyk, Molony, Pepper, Carr-Smith, and Annett

Sin bin: Dunn (28 mins)

Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Pollard, Van Poortvliet, Smith, Montoya (c), Heyes, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell,

Replacements: Kelly, Cronin, Hurd, Rogerson, Ilione, Youngs, Shillcock, and Clare.

(10 mins) Sin bin: Chessum

Gallagher Premiership

Bath (19) 43

Spencer, Obano, Roux, Dunn, Stuart, Cokanasiga, Butt Cons: Russell 4

Leicester (15) 15

In a fiery top-of-the-table encounter with Tigers of Leicester, Leaders Bath defeated leaders Bath 43-15 to set up a significant milestone in the Premiership’s final weekend.

Leicester must wait until the final league game in two weeks before making a playoff debut following a second half defeat that saw the Tigers hold them to a scoreless draw.

After tries from Ben Spencer, Beno Obano, and Quinn Roux, Leicester responded with tries from Joseph Woodward and Adam Radwan, and Bath won 19-15.

However, a showpiece intercepted effort from Joe Cokanasiga and Will Butt’s last-minute score sealed a statement victory in a dominant second 40 minutes with tries from Tom Dunn and Will Stuart.

In their final game on May 31st, Leicester will face bottom-of-the-table Newcastle at home, five points clear of Gloucester in fifth.

Despite being three weeks away from the Twickenham spectacle, the match started with all the tension of a Premiership final. Two of the league’s most competitive packs faced off against one another.

After four minutes, Spencer threw a dummy to close the gap left by Handre Pollard, who had already scored, into the corner to give Leicester the lead.

The Tigers’ defense was superb as Julian Montoya skillfully held them over the line after Ollie Chessum’s early yellow card for head contact on Will Muir then appeared to hand Bath the initiative.

Leicester came out of the period with 14 men better, as Jack van Poortvliet picked out Woodward with a cross-field kick in space to give Tigers an 8-5 lead, knowing that just one point from the match would put them in second place.

Hill initially thought he had pulled one back for Bath, but it was offside, with Obano then heading over as the score returned to the home side.

Leicester forced Bath to endure wave after wave of pressure, made worse by Dunn’s yellow card for head contact on Hanro Liebenberg.

The excellent covering tackle from Radwan almost immediately put him in again, but Hill’s excellent coverage tackle saw Bath finish the half with a run in under the posts.

As Bath turned the tables in the second half, Dunn’s celebration on his club-record 184th appearance was savoured by the home fans after his earlier yellow was disappointing.

Leicester were penned back deep by their own line as Bath’s replacements have consistently proved to be a major difference this season.

After one crucial Bath try was ruled out for a knock-on, Stuart scored Bath’s fifth try from close range to all but seal the victory.

Johann van Graan, the head of rugby at Bath, stated to BBC Radio Bristol:

We gave an 80-minute performance, stating that “we had a good 40 minutes of fighting between two of the best teams in the Premiership.”

We only had a few chances, but I adore the hunger. We continued to punch, and for the final 20 minutes, we were outstanding.

The final try at the end demonstrated what we were all about: it was difficult to beat until it was over. Everyone at the Rec is welcome, and I’m happy.

Michael Cheika, the head coach of the Tigers of Leicester, told BBC Radio Leicester:

I believed our defense team worked really hard. They did score a few tries at the end, but they won because the line-out, we drop a ball, and they ran the length.

“We simply didn’t have the extra edge in attack, even though I thought we were quite physical,” he said.

Through our own fault and Bath’s excellent play, we played a lot of the second half in our own half.

“Early on, we scored a few good tries, and I thought at half-time that we were in the game. I think you need to make sure you nail as many chances as you can while putting the pressure on them,” said one player.

Replacements: Green, Ojomoh, Van Wyk, Van Wyk, Molony, Pepper, Carr-Smith, and Annett

Sin bin: Dunn (28 mins)

Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Pollard, Van Poortvliet, Smith, Montoya (c), Heyes, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell,

Replacements: Kelly, Cronin, Hurd, Rogerson, Ilione, Youngs, Shillcock, and Clare.

(10 mins) Sin bin: Chessum