Injury-hit Cardiff Rugby claimed an important losing bonus-point as they went down fighting against Hollywoodbets Sharks in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

A Mason Grady brace put the Blue & Blacks into a 12-7 lead but they would have been frustrated by the Sharks fight-back with a man in the sin-bin.

They trailed 21-12 at the break and threatened in a tense second-half. With injuries piling up, they battled until the bitter death and Ioan Lloyd landed a late penalty to claim a deserved point.

That sees them remain fifth in the URC table ahead of other fixtures this weekend.

Cardiff fly back to the UK tomorrow, ready to turn attention to a European Challenge Cup Round of 16 clash against Benetton Rugby. 

Eight changes

Corniel van Zyl made eight changes for the Kings Park clash, including the return of Wales back-row duo James Botham and Taulupe Faletau back to the starting line-up.

With a heavy defeat to Vodacom Bulls still stinging, the Blue & Blacks could take confidence from their two previous wins in Durban, but acutely aware of the difficulty of completing a rare hat-trick at the Shark tank.

 The Sharks opened the scoring shortly after the five minute mark with Johan Mulder seeing his box-kick charged down by Jason Jenkins. 

With the try-line at his mercy, Callum Sheedy was able to get his boot to the ball but from the ensuing lineout, the Sharks rumbled over with Phepsi Buthelezi the scorer.

Springboks ace Jordan Hendrikse added the extras to make it 7-0 and they were dealt a further blow when Josh McNally was helped off.

Alun Lawrence replaced the second-row, who joined Teddy Williams, George Nott, Ben Donnell and Tom Cottlein the position’s injury list. 

Cardiff responded with a trick lineout after kicking touch, with Mason Grady winning the ball at the front, but in difficult conditions, possession was lost as the drive formed. 

Minutes later, the Blue & Blacks went back to the corner after Keiron Assiratti won a scrum penalty, and scrappy ball was won. 

Mulder put his side on the front foot after sniping from the base. Following a succession of phases, and playing with advantage, the ball was slung wide but play broke down. 

Belcher took the tap and following slick hands from Sheedy and Ioan Lloyd, Grady was put over in the corner.

Sheedy converted from wide to level the scores after 17 minutes, but they were dealt a further injury blow when Corey Domshowski was also forced off. 

Cardiff remained well in the battle and they were handed good attacking opportunity when Hendrikse was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock on.

Sheedy knocked Cardiff to the 22 and another clever lineout saw Liam Belcher burst down the wing. 

After being brought down, Cardiff went wide but with further Sharks interference, which gave the visitors the advantage. Sheedy regathered and moved the ball to Ben Thomas, who lofted a kick to the corner, which Grady collected on the bounce and powered over.  

Sheedy’s kick sailed right of the uprights and the Sharks responded swiftly, changing their entire front-row to introduce World Cup winners Ox Nche and Vincent Koch.

It had an immediate impact as they gained the advantage up front and minutes later they responded through another driving lineout, again finished by Buthelezi.

Bradley Davis nudged the Sharks back in front and they grabbed a third try from broken play. 

Yaw Penxe collected loose ball and chipped over the top with the ball sitting up beautifully for a fine individual try. Hendrikse returned to slot the conversion and give his side a 21-12 lead. 

Half-time

Sharks took that advantage into the break, but a stalemate ensured in the second-half. The home side piled on plenty of pressure thanks to their sizeable pack and were benefitting from refereeing decisions, but Cardiff held strong with Botham pouncing for a key turnover. 

Cardiff had their own opportunities, largely thanks to Sheedy’s clever attacking game. The best perhaps was a cross-kick on 70 minutes but it was marginally too long an Elijah Evans was unable to hold onto the ball while trying to stay in play. 

Ioan Lloyd broke the deadlock on 73 minute to put Cardiff in losing bonus-point territory and six points within the hosts.

The Sharks threatened in the closing stages but opted to boot the ball out while on the attack to secure their win against spirited Cardiff.