DURBAN, July 14 (Reuters) – The Sharks defeated the Cheetahs
34-15 at Kings Park on Sunday to qualify for the Super Rugby
playoffs at the expense of the Wellington Hurricanes.
The bonus point win moved the Sharks from eighth to fifth
place, knocking the Hurricanes out of the knockout stages.
They were forced to work hard for their win after trailing
6-15 at half-time but they then ran in four tries in a superb
second-half performance while the visitors failed to add to the
five first-half penalties from flyhalf Riaan Smit.
Sharks pivot Frederic Michalak ended with 14 points courtesy
of four conversions and two penalties.
“”It was a nerve-wracking first 40 minutes but we hung in
there and didn’t let them score any tries and we were still in
it at halftime,” Sharks captain Keegan Daniel said in a
televised interview.
Neither team were able to establish an early advantage in a
scrappy first half with Michalak and Smit trading early
penalties.
But the Sharks made life difficult for themselves when
inside centre Francois Steyn was yellow-carded for a spear
tackle on Cheetahs centre Robert Ebersohn in the 19th minute.
Smit kicked the visitors into the lead from the resulting
penalty before succeeding with his third penalty, in the 24th
minute.
Michalak narrowed the gap with his second penalty but the
Cheetahs were punishing the Sharks for their lack of discipline
and Smit kicked his team into what seemed like a commanding
halftime lead with two more penalties.
Continued…
