SYDNEY, March 24 (Reuters) – New South Wales Waratahs put
their season firmly back on track by coming from behind to beat
a tiring Sharks side 34-30 in an entertaining Super Rugby
encounter at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday.
Coming off two successive defeats, the Waratahs trailed the
South Africans 24-13 early in the second half with their season
threatening to implode before it had really begun.
Tries from fullback Bernard Foley and pugnacious centre Tom
Carter in five minutes approaching the hour mark got them back
in the contest, however, and winger Tom Kingston crossed the
line four minutes from time to clinch the bonus-point win.
The Sharks had the better of the first half and scored tries
through winger Lwazi Mvovo, number eight Keegan Daniel and
hooker Bismarck du Plessis but faded in the Sydney sunshine as
the long journey from South Africa began to take its toll.
“I’m over the moon,” Waratahs skipper Benn Robinson said in
a pitchside interview. “This team delivers under pressure all
the time. It’s been hard for us the last three or four weeks but
we’ve stuck together and stayed strong.”
Both teams tried to run the ball from all parts of the pitch
but it was the visitors who got the first try in the third
minute when Mvovo was set free to sprint to the line by
impressive centre Meyer Bosman.
Waratahs scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin scored all of his team’s
points in the first half with the first try, which he converted,
as well as two penalties.
The Sharks used the rolling maul effectively throughout the
match and it was from catch and drives that skipper Daniel and
Bismarck du Plessis crossed for tries either side of the break
to give them an 11 point lead.
Even after Foley and Carter had scored their tries to put
the home side 27-24 ahead, Sharks flyhalf Pat Lambie pegged them
back with two penalties.
Continued…
