Teenager Bosch kicks 18 points in vital Sharks win

Teenage fly-half Curwin Bosch kicked 18 points as Coastal Sharks of South Africa won 33-25 at Jaguares of Argentina Saturday in a key Super Rugby match. Success gave the Sharks an eight-point advantage in the standings over the Jaguares with six rounds left as the teams battle for a quarter-finals place. It was a much improved show by the visitors after coach Robert du Preez told his players to refund spectators following a woeful home draw with the Melbourne Rebels last weekend. Du Preez demonstrated his unhappiness by making eight changes and not taking long-serving Springbok prop Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira to South America. Sharks took the lead within two minutes as quick recycling of the ball from rucks ended with skipper and flanker Phillip van der Walt scoring. Bosch converted and soon after rival playmaker Nicolas Sanchez closed the gap by effortlessly slotting a penalty. The match then turned into a penalty-kicking contest for some time with Bosch succeeding twice and Sanchez once to leave the Sharks 13-6 ahead. Veteran South African scrum-half Michael Claassens was sin-binned for foul play midway through the opening half and the hosts took advantage of having an extra man. A clever backline move triggered by Sanchez sent full-back Joaquin Tuculet over and the fly-half converted from the touchline to bring the sides level. Claassens had just returned to the pitch when a Jaguares attack initiated by winning a five-metre scrum led to centre Matias Orlando scoring under the posts. Sanchez converted for a seven-point lead that lasted just two minutes before a brilliant run from full-back Rhyno Smith led to lock Etienne Oosthuizen scoring. Bosch converted to leave the teams level at half-time after a long-range Sanchez penalty rebounded off the post. Sharks regained the lead 12 minutes into the second half with an unusual try in that it involved two props with tighthead Coenie Oosthuizen sending loosehead Thomas du Toit in. Teenager Bosch converted and the Durban outfit had a seven-point advantage for a second time at Estadio Jose Amalfitani. That stretched to 10 points when Bosch kicked a penalty, but the Jaguares hit back immediately with a try from winger Bautista Ezcurra, the first not to be converted. Bosch completed the scoring in stoppage time with a penalty that deprived the home side of a bonus point for losing by seven points or less.