| Sharks vs Western Force SPOILER [message #1006152] |
Fri, 12 May 2006 22:53 |
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South Africans Into Semifinals
13/05/2006
Duncan Johnstone
The Sharks ensured a South African presence in the semifinals of the Rebel
Sport Super 14 when they scored a bonus point 41-25 win over the Western
Force in Durban on Saturday.
The Sharks needed to score at least four tries and win by 10 points or more
to overtake the Brumbies on points differential to gain the vital No 4
position on the table.
They managed that rather comfortably, scoring five tries, all converted by
Percy Montgomery.
But they had a few flutters towards the end when Western Force fullback
Cameron Shepherd scored two tries in three minutes just before fulltime to
dangerously narrow the margin.
The Sharks aren't completely safe. They could still be overtaken by the
Bulls who play the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.
The Bulls would need to win by 32 points or more to steal the No 4 position
and earn a trip to Christchurch to take on the Crusaders in next weekend's
semifinal.
That looks unlikely with the Stormers in resurgent form.
But their second half of the season hasn't been as strong as that of the
Sharks who look to have powered themselves all the way into the playoffs
now.
The Sharks have only won seven of their 13 matches but have managed to earn
10 bonus points along the way - effectively two extra wins - to slowly
overhaul the teams ahead of them.
They nailed this latest effort with a super first half in Durban where they
effectively won the match, leading 27-8 at the break.
Lively wing Odwa Ndungane scored after two minutes and the Sharks never
looked back.
The Force couldn't do their Australian mates the Brumbies any favours but
they did fight back to take the second half honours three tries to two.
It ended a satisfactory debut season from John Mitchell's side who had a run
of two draws and a win before this final round loss that left them bottom of
the table despite garnering a bonus point with four tries in defeat.
With their recruitment drive continuing, they look capably of pushing on
from this next year and, indeed, becoming a force in the championship.
Sharks 41: Odwa Ndungane 2, Jacques Botes, Warren Britz, J.P. Pietersen
tries; Percy Montgomery 5 con, 2 pen.
Force 25: Digby Ioane, Scott Fava , Cameron Shepherd 2; Shepherd con, pen.
Good Stuff.
Matua
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