Superb young winger's heroics not enough to inspire Cardiff victory
A superb performance from Tom Bowen wasn't enough to inspire Cardiff to victory against the Sharks at the Arms Park, as two late scores denied them two bonus points in a 42-22 defeat.
With eight minutes left to play, the Blue and Blacks trailed by just six points against the South African outfit, thanks to scores from Alex Mann, Gabe Hamer-Webb and a brilliant brace of tries from young winger Bowen.
However, two late scores robbed them of the chance of victory, as well as a losing bonus point to go along with their four-try bonus point.
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It had been the Arms Park side that took the lead after eight minutes of this United Rugby Championship encounter.
Hamer-Webb capitalised on a Sharks mistake to burst into the away half, before Rory Jennings' pinpoint kick-pass found Bowen on the other wing.
The young winger cut back past several defenders before being dragged down, but quick hands from Cardiff got the ball left for Wales flanker Mann to cross.
However, the South African side soon took control. Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi forced his way over from a driving maul after 14 minutes, before neat handling allowed centre Jurenzo Julius to score minutes later.
Cardiff had a score chalked off when prop Rhys Barratt was done for double movement. The Sharks moved further ahead just after the half-hour mark, with a chip behind eluding Cameron Winnett and bouncing up for Makazole Mapimpi to score.
Matt Sherratt's side kept plugging away towards the end of the first-half, with Bowen in particular proving a constant threat.
Having popped up at the start of the move, the wing showed great pace and vision to take Josh McNally's pull-back pass at full pelt, scamper around the Sharks defence and down the touchline to dive over for his first try in the URC.
The second-half didn't start in ideal fashion for Cardiff, with Mbonambi getting over for his second score after surging through Callum Sheedy's tackle attempt.
However, a grubber by Winnett was latched onto by Bowen, who raced over for his second of the game.
Bowen nearly grabbed a hat-trick before the hour-mark, getting to his own kick downfield - only for the bounce of the ball to not go his way. However, TMO replays showed he had actually found touch for a 50:22.
From the lineout, Cardiff kept their patience to work the space for Hamer-Webb to cross out wide for the bonus point score.
That made it a six-point game heading into the final quarter, with Cardiff in with a shout of snatching victory until eight minutes from time. Mapimpi's chip behind bounced for Jaden Hendrikse, who put Francois Ventre under the posts.
With Cardiff chasing a losing bonus point, the visitors capitalised further. Thomas Young's grubber from deep as the match broke up was ran back by the away side, with Yaw Penxe scything through the disorganised Cardiff chase to score.
