Impressive Sharks rattle the Hurricanes to run out 32-15 winners
The Sharks produced a performance that did South African rugby proud as they ran out 32-15 winners over their New Zealand visitors, the Hurricanes, in Durban, on Saturday afternoon.
After the teams were level-pegging at 8-all at the halftime break, the Sharks took the game – and the Hurricanes, by the scruff of the neck and ran in three unanswered tries. However, it was not enough to bag a bonus point because the Hurricanes’ late flurry produced try in a contest in which the Sharks outscored their opponents 4-2 in the try count.
In the opening minutes, both sides had opted to keep ball in hand even trying to run their way out from deep defensive positions. There wasn’t much variation on attack until Sharks flyhalf Gareth April intervened with a great touch which opened up the Highlanders’ defence out wide in the right channel. However, his off-load to centre Paul Jordaan who ran in to score under posts, was adjudged ‘forward’ after a request for the TMO to review the play in the 11th minute.
Another scoring chance went a begging four minutes later when winger Lwazi Mvovo kicked ahead after the Sharks had taken play into to the Hurricanes’ 22-metre area. As he set off on the chase to the tryline, he was taken out with a bump by Hurricanes fullback James Marshall and he ended up sprawling on the turf. Instead of a yellow card for the offender, South African referee Marius van der Westhuizen awarded a penalty which April converted (3-0).
The Highlanders regained the initiative for a sustained spell as the Sharks were forced to settle for a largely defensive role in their own half. On two occasions, the Hurricanes dropped the ball some 10 metres out from the tryline although the Sharks’ defence did well to man up in what was proving to a really physical encounter.
The Hurricanes managed to come away with a 23rd minute Beauden Barrett penalty for all their attacking efforts but there was more reward seven minutes later when their loosehead prop Reg Goodes ran an excellent line from six metres out to streak through the defence for the opening try in the match. Barrett’s conversion was wide (8-3).
There was a strong finish by the Sharks to the first half as they looked to claw away at the New Zealand visitors’ lead. Their flanker Keegan Daniel turned talisman with great break downfield and he left the Hurricanes’ defence in disarray. They were unable to regroup sufficiently to stop the Sharks’ surge and winger JP Pietersen crashed over close to the corner flag. April’s conversion attempt was held out by the upright and the team made off to the change rooms with scores locked at 8-all.
The crowd has hardly taken their seats in the second half when Daniel and Pietersen again came to the fore with plays that opened the way for the Sharks’ next try. Moments after Keagan had stolen a Hurricanes line-out deep inside the home side’s half, the Sharks were able to transfer to the opposing half.
The Hurricanes subsequently dropped a pass inside their own half where Pietersen pounced with a kick ahead and then outstripped the cover defence to score a second try. April converted to open up a 15-8 lead in the 45th minute.
The Hurricanes were in for another rude surprise six minutes later after the Sharks’ pack rumbled on towards the tryline. They were awarded a penalty five metres out and quick-thinking scrumhalf Michael Claassens nipped in from a tap penalty for the Sharks’ third try, which April converted (22-8).
Two minutes on, the stand-out flyhalf April made way for Patrick Lambie who was given a rousing welcome by the fans in the ‘Shark Tank’ and he was barely three minutes on the field when he landed a penalty to give his side a commanding 25-8 lead.
The match was as good as over in the 69th minute when Daniel du Preez, the Sharks’ No 8, scored his side fourth try and with Lambie converting for a 32-8 lead, there was finally a real hope of a South African Super Rugby victory over a New Zeland side.
The Hurricanes scored a consolation try late in the match through Marshall and substitute Jason Woodward goaled the conversion (32-15).
Scorers: Sharks 32 (8): Tries: JP Pietersen (2), Michael Claassens, Daniel du Preez. Conversions: Garth April (2), Patrick Lambie. Penalty: April, Lambie.
Highlanders 15 (8): Tries: Reg Goodes, James Marshall. Conversion: Jason Woodward. Penalty: