Sharks win ugly at Royal Bafokeng

The Sharks achieved the victory with a bonus point to beat the Leopards 41-14 on Saturday, but the scoreline was flattering for the Durban side.

It is a case of job done for the Sharks, who climb up to second on the log and in with a chance of securing a home semifinal next week against the Lions.

While it was mission accomplished for the Sharks they weren't fluid at any stage and made too many mistakes that could have been costly against stronger opposition.

The Leopards fought hard and scored two tries and controlled the ball for long periods with their forwards trying to grind down the opposition.

However, in a weekend full of surprises both in the Currie Cup and the World Cup this was not to be the fairytale ending for the Leopards.

Sharks flyhalf Freddie Michalak opened the scoring with a well struck penalty. Shortly afterwards Adi Jacobs scored the first try by running an excellent inside angle off Meyer Bosman's shoulder and slicing through the Leopards defence.

The power of the Sharks was visible in the second try when the rolling maul was set up from an attacking line-out and the Leopards had no answer as flank Jacques Botes scored from the well rehearsed move.

There was then a scrappy end to the first half with mistakes from both sides and the Sharks took a 15-0 lead into the break.

The Leopards were first to strike in the second half after an excellent break down the field by Danie Dames, before scrumhalf Johann Laker darted round the fringes of the ruck to score from close range.

The Sharks then claimed all the territory and possession and camped themselves in the Leopards half until finally  Jean Deysel peeled off the back of a ruck onto the blindside from 10 metres out, drew in three defenders and popped the pass out to Lwazi Mvovo to score in the corner.

The Leopards struck back instantly through their Namibian World Cup star Danie Dames, who went round Mvovo on the outside, cut back in field and darted through a gap to beat Michalak and Sithole to score a top try.

There was a reply from the Sharks immediately as Conrad Hoffmann scored the bonus point try. Breaks by Deysel and then Terblanche set up the try scoring opportunity, and then a neat back hand flip by Keegan Daniel sent the scrumhalf in for the important try.

In the dying moment of the match the Leopards threw everything into their desperate attack and flank Luvuyiso Lusaseni in open space attempted an ambitious chip that went straight into the chest of Sharks skipper Daniel. The openside flank was only too happy to oblige and intercept for a clear run to the tryline.

There was time for one final try to rub salt into the wounds for the Leopards, as sevens ace Sithole got the ball in open play, dodged and weaved his way past tired defenders to give the Sharks a flattering scoreline.

Man of the match: Leopards lock Brad Mockford was industrious and did a lot of good work up front, while wing Danie Dames fast and dangerous fresh from playing for Namibia at the World Cup. However, the best player on the field was without a doubt Jean Deysel, despite playing out of position at lock stood out with ball in hand especially and was a tower of strength.

Scorers

For the Leopards:
Tries: Laker, Dames
Cons: Dunlop 2

For the Sharks:
Tries: Jacobs, Botes, Mvovo, Hoffmann, Daniel, Sithole
Cons: Michalak 4
Pens: Michalak

The teams:

Leopards: 15 Hoffmann Maritz, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Charl Weideman, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Johann Laker, 8 Robert Kruger, 7 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6 Philip de Wet, 5 Brad Mockford, 4 Brendon Snyman, 3 Dewald Coetzee, Gavin Williamson, Jean-Jacques Rossouw.
Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Alfred Wauts, 18 Christo van Niekerk, 19 Juan Pretorius, 20 Liam Slatem, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Jovan Bowles.

Sharks: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Jan Andre Marais, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Marius Joubert, 22 Stefan Terblanche.

By Timmy Hancox