The Sharks’ French flyhalf, Frederic Michalak, contributed all of their points with the boot as they beat DHL Western Province at a soaking wet DHL Newlands in Cape Town on Friday evening.
Michalak’s four penalty goals and three dropped goals were too much for the home team as The Sharks returned to Durban with four log points after winning a tight game by 21-19.
DHL WP’s Brok Harris (prop) scored the only try of the game as the home team fought back with their backs to the wall, and while the came close in the end, Michalak and The Sharks had just enough left in the tank to clinch victory.
Both teams defended very well in the slippery conditions, but the home team perhaps tried to attack too much at the back, while The Sharks played the more conservative rugby, better suited to the wet field.
Michalak is still the top points scorer for 2011 with 88 points thus far in the competition (through two tries, nine conversions, 17 penalty goals and three dropped goals). He is followed by Catrakilis on 68 points.
Scorers:
- DHL Western Province – Try: Brok Harris. Conversion: Demetri Catrakilis. Penalties: Catrakilis (3). Drop goal: Catrakilis.
- The Sharks – Penalties: Frederick Michalak (4). Drop goals: Michalak (3).
Teams:
- DHL Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie (captain), 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Adriaan Fondse, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Berton Klaasen, 22 Marcel Brache.
- The Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Patrick Lambie, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick. Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Jan Andre Marais, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Marius Joubert.
Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Log
- MTN Golden Lions – 5 – 5 – 0 – 0 – 186 – 111 – 75 – 23 – 13 – 2 – 22
- The Sharks – 5 – 4 – 0 – 1 – 144 – 134 – 10 – 12 – 11 – 2 – 18
- GWK Griquas – 5 – 3 – 1 – 1 – 152 – 148 – 4 – 16 – 18 – 3 – 17
- DHL Western Province – 5 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 149 – 91 – 58 – 13 – 4 – 4 – 14
- Toyota Free State Cheetahs – 5 – 2 – 0 – 3 – 142 – 127 – 15 – 15 – 12 – 4 – 12
- Vodacom Blue Bulls – 5 – 2 – 0 – 3 – 99 – 148 – -49 – 9 – 14 – 0 – 8
- Ford Pumas – 5 – 0 – 0 – 5 – 109 – 137 – -28 – 11 – 14 – 5 – 5
- Platinum Leopards – 5 – 1 – 0 – 4 – 102 – 187 – -85 – 12 – 25 – 1 – 5
Twittering Rugby Twits:
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