The Hollywoodbets Sharks made history as the first South African franchise to qualify for the Challenge Cup final. They staged a remarkable comeback from a 10-point halftime deficit to secure a nail-biting 32-31 victory against Clermont Auvergne in a tense semi-final at the Twickenham Stoop in London.
The Sharks from KwaZulu-Natal will now face Gloucester in the final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Friday, May 24, after the English club triumphed over Benetton with a 40-23 victory in the other semi-final in England.
Here are the Las Vegas Odds from three of the best online betting sites.
Sharks flyhalf Siya Masuku, earning his third Man of the Match award in as many games, played a pivotal role in the narrow victory. He capitalized on Clermont’s ill-discipline in the first half, slotting six penalty goals. However, the Durban team struggled defensively, conceding three tries while the French side added two penalty goals, leading to a 28-18 deficit at halftime.
Clermont continued their momentum early in the second half, adding another penalty goal to extend their lead to 31-18. They nearly put the game out of reach with a promising try-scoring opportunity, but the Sharks were fortunate as it was denied.
The tide began to turn in the 57th minute when Clermont’s Argentina international Bautista Delguy was sent to the sin bin. The Sharks took advantage, with Springbok prop Vincent Koch scoring a pick-and-drive try, converted by Masuku, narrowing the gap to six points.
Despite going down to 14 men themselves in the 63rd minute when Aphelele Fassi received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, the Sharks’ fighting spirit shone through. Springbok speedster Makazole Mapimpi scored a try in the 70th minute, and Masuku’s conversion gave them a slender 32-31 lead as the clock ticked down.
Clermont mounted a fierce challenge in the closing minutes, but the Sharks’ determined defense held firm, securing a one-point victory. This win not only propelled them to the EPCR Challenge Cup final but also marked them as the first South African franchise to achieve this milestone.
Gloucester’s preparation has been far from ideal. In their last game, Premiership league leaders Northampton Saints delivered their best performance of the season, overwhelming a dismal Gloucester side that conceded over a dozen tries. Northampton shattered multiple records, crushing Gloucester 90-0 in the Gallagher Premiership. Gloucester’s disjointed play was mercilessly exploited by the hosts.
Before this, in the Challenge Cup semi-final, Gloucester earned a 40-23 victory over Benetton in an entertaining match at Kingsholm. Tries from Josh Hathaway, Sebastian Blake, Adam Hastings, Freddie Clarke, and Ollie Thorley secured their spot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Benetton’s Rhyno Smith and Gianmarco Lucchesi, who scored twice, couldn’t match their United Rugby Championship form, ending their European campaign. England outcast Zach Mercer earned the player of the match award for his outstanding performance, despite receiving a yellow card for a trip earlier in the game.
Gloucester now aims for their third Challenge Cup final win. They previously lifted the trophy in 2006 and 2015.
Sharks will win this and I am backing the -2.5 spread bet at odds of -120.
Bovada offers a number of betting markets on Rugby. One of their offerings is the half time/full time bet. This bet involves choosing the outcome at both half time and full time. I am backing Sharks/Sharks which means they must be leading at the half time break and go on to win the match. The odds are +105.
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