Dragons vs Sharks Prediction & Betting Tips - Challenge Cup

Prediction published on 20/01/2024, 10:00  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 20/01/2024 at 10:02 in Challenge Cup Predictions

Round 4 in the EPCR Challenge Cup will see the Dragons take on the Sharks on Sunday evening. The hosts are in fifth place in Pool 1, while the visitors lead the Pool standings. This marks the final match of Round 4, so by kick-off time, both sides will have a clear understanding of what is required not only to qualify for the Round of 116 but also to secure a home draw. Heading into the last round, the Sharks lead Pool 1 with 12 points, while the Cheetahs follow closely with nine. Zebre Parma and Section Paloise both have eight points, the Dragons have accumulated seven, and Oyonnax has fallen out of contention with just one point.

The Dragons started with a 24-7 home victory over Oyonnax, followed by a narrow 24-21 loss away to Section Paloise in Round 2. In Round 3, they suffered another close defeat, this time on the road against Zebre Parma. Notably, the Dragons faced the Sharks in Durban during a URC Round 6 clash on November 25th, where they conceded 10 tries and experienced a decisive 69-14 defeat. In the URC standings, the Dragons currently hold the second-bottom position with a record of two wins and seven defeats.

The Sharks ascended to the top of the pool standings with a convincing 38-7 home victory over Oyonnax in Round 3, securing a bonus point in the process. Their Challenge Cup journey commenced with an impressive 45-5 triumph over Section Paloise in Durban. However, they faced a setback in the subsequent round, suffering a narrow 32-29 defeat in a derby clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. In contrast to their success in the Challenge Cup, the Sharks' URC campaign has been notably challenging. Their lone triumph came in the form of the mentioned home win over the Dragons, with the team registering 8 defeats, placing them at the bottom of the standings in the URC competition.