United Rugby Championship: Sharks 37-20 Scarlets

Sharks overcame gutsy Scarlets in the first United Rugby Championship game to be played in South Africa.

The opening period was played at a breathless pace, but only fly-halves Sam Costelow and Curwin Bosch scored, with two penalties apiece.

Aaron Shingler put Scarlets ahead with the first try after the break, Aphelele Fassi replying before Bosch pounced.

After a Sharks penalty try, Steff Evans went over before Marius Louw crossed for the bonus-point score.

Scarlets were left to rue missed first-half chances.

The hosts included World Cup-winning South Africa captain Siya Kolisi among 10 Springboks.

Costelow and Dane Blacker started at half-back for the visitors, with Rhys Patchell unfit and Gareth Davies back with Wales.

Their only other change was wing Corey Baldwin coming in for the injured Ryan Conbeer.

Kolisi led Sharks in the absence of regular skipper Lukhanyo Am.

Springbok centre Am, 28, had signed a new three-year deal with Sharks before being granted leave to spend two months with Kobe Steelers in Japan.

The game was the first southern v northern hemisphere match-up staged in South Africa in the expanded URC competition.

The fixture was originally scheduled for November but was postponed following the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, leaving Scarlets temporarily stranded in Durban before returning, via 10 days' isolation in Northern Ireland.

Scarlets impressed in the early stages of their return, but while Costelow rewarded them with two penalties, he was denied an opening try by full-back Fassi's outstretched fingertips.

Steff Evans had an even clearer chance to score, but stepped marginally into touch as he dived over at the corner with no defender close.

Sharks' power paid off on their first visit to Scarlets territory, forcing the penalty that allowed Bosch to kick their first points.

The home fly-half missed his next two shots at goal and scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse was denied by Scott Williams and Tom Rogers under Scarlets' posts.

Sharks eventually settled for a penalty from Bosch as the visitors continued to soak up the pressure for the sides to go in level at the break.

Scarlets broke the deadlock as Shingler cruised through from a slick line-out, Costelow adding the extras before Bosch missed a long-range penalty.

It took a moment of magic for Sharks to shake off their disjointed and sometimes sloppy display as Hendrikse's cheeky tap ahead gave Fassi the chance to chase, gather and race to the posts.

Bosch converted to again level the scores and then saw Costelow's replacement Dan Jones hit an upright with a penalty attempt.

Worse was to follow for the visitors as captain Scott Williams' clearance was charged down and Bosch pounced to put the hosts ahead for the first time.

The home fly-half stretched Sharks' lead with a penalty and a penalty try followed as they unleashed a powerful close-range drive.

Sam Lousi conjured the chance that led to Evans' try and Jones' conversion, but the hosts ended stronger as Louw crashed over.

Sharks: Aphelele Fassi; Sbu Nkosi, Jeremy Ward, Marius Louw, Makazole Mapimpi; Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Gerbrandt Grobler, Reniel Hugo, Siya Kolisi (capt), Henco Venter, Sikhumbuzo Notshe.

Replacements: Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Khutha Mchunu, Le Roux Roets, Phepsi Buthelezi, Grant Williams, Tito Bonilla, Werner Kok.

Scarlets: Tom Rogers; Steff Evans, Johnny Williams, Scott Williams (capt), Corey Baldwin; Sam Costelow, Dane Blacker; Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes, Samson Lee, Sam Lousi, Jac Price, Blade Thomson, Dan Davis, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O'Connor, Aaron Shingler, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Archie Hughes, Dan Jones, Joe Roberts.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Assistants: Marius van der Westhuizen & Morne Ferreira (SARU)

TMO: Adam Jones (WRU).