Curwin Bosch was the unexpected 27-point star as Coastal Sharks of South Africa defeated New South Wales Waratahs of Australia 37-14 in a Super Rugby match Saturday.
The teenage utility back started the match at Kings Park stadium in Durban among the replacements only to be thrust into action after six minutes when captain Patrick Lambie was injured.
National U-20 star Bosch kicked a penalty within three minutes and went on to score a try and kick two conversions and another five penalties in a flawless display of goal-kicking.
After his outstanding performance the fly-half seemed a natural choice for man of the match, but the award went to team-mate and flanker Jean-Luc du Preez, a son of Sharks coach Robert du Preez.
It was the second victory in three outings for the Sharks, who lost narrowly to the Queensland Reds and defeated the ACT Brumbies when they began the season with two matches in Australia.
Defeat completed a dismal two-match tour for the Sydney-based Waratahs, who were trounced 55-36 by the Golden Lions in Johannesburg last weekend and returned home pointless.
“Winning was nice, but we were disappointed to lose Patrick (Lambie) so early and not to get a bonus point,” admitted Sharks loose forward and vice-captain Tera Mtembu.
Waratahs skipper and flanker Michael Hooper said: “We had chances to score more points, while we did not deal well with pressure. The season is young and there is time to turn the tide.”
A second-minute try by Mtembu set the tone for an opening half dominated by the home side, who clinically punished mistakes by a Australian team that lost Jack Dempsey to the sin bin on 11 minutes.
Waratahs centre Israel Folau scored his second try of the match three minutes into the second half to trim the 24-7 deficit by seven points, but the visitors failed to score again.
Mtembu, Bosch and winger Kobus van Wyk scored tries for the Sharks and Bosch slotted two conversions and six penalties.
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