Sharks stay top of the pops
Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:16
Shark attack: Wing Odwa Ndungane gets tackled by a Cheetahs
The Sharks managed to retain their first place on the Currie Cup standings with a hard-fought 24-13 win over a game Free State Cheetahs outfit in Durban on Saturday.
The teams shared the try count two each, but it was three penalties by Argentinean import Juan Hernández and a Stefan Terblanche drop-gaol that ultimately proved the difference in a brutal battle that saw bodies often scattered across the field.
The Sharks looked to have the game wrapped up early - racing to a 15-0 lead inside the first quarter.
But the Cheetahs came storming back and for the next 40 minutes clawed their way back into the game to trail just 13-18 with the final quarter approaching.
However, a couple of late Hernández penalties sealed the deal.
As exciting as their comeback was, in the end the Cheetahs just weren't clinical enough and made far too many errors - which saw their victory run come to an end after six weeks.
The home team deserved the win after dominating the possession stakes, while also making fewer errors.
The Cheetahs, who had the better of the very early exchanges and again looked like possible winners shortly after the half-time break, at times scrummed the Sharks back and won their fair share in the line-outs.
However, too many turnovers from insecure handling let them down at crucial times and they were punished - with both Sharks tries coming from concentration lapses by the Cheetahs.
In a match marked by some scintillating running from both sides, the Sharks, somewhat against the run of play, scored two good tries within six minutes to run up a 15-0 lead after 18 minutes.
With Ryan Kankowski in rampant form and fellow loose forward Jean Deysel at his aggressive best in the close exchanges, the Sharks had a basis to work from and did so well before the break.
It was Kankowski who did most of the early running, with fullback Stefan Terblanche getting in on the act and a deft touch putting Waylon Murray away for the try after 12 minutes.
With Juan Martin Hernandez adding the conversion to an earlier penalty a minute before, the Sharks were suddenly in charge - although most of the play until then had come from the Cheetahs.
Craig Burden increased the lead when he pounced on a loose ball for his team's second try (15-0) and the Sharks seemed to be on a roll.
But the Cheetahs fought hard and pulled back eight points - through a good try by Ashley Johnson, after the Sharks had kicked up-field. The Cheetahs opted to run it out from there and broke the home side's defence for Johnson to score.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter missed the conversion, but slotted a penalty on the half-time whistle to make it 15-8 to the home side at the break.
Both teams persevered with their approach of running it wide and Free State, in particular, looked dangerous with Fabian Juries threatening on a number of occasions.
But it was the Sharks who were next to score when captain Stefan Terblanche landed a sweetly-struck drop-goal without much pressure on him, after a ruck in front of the Cheetahs' posts (18-8).
Not to be outdone, the Cheetahs again ran from well within their own territory, after another Sharks wayward kick. Potgieter did most of the running, and then switched the pass inside to right wing JW Jonker who cut in for a good try near the posts.
Potgieter missed his second, rather simple kick after an earlier botched penalty, but the Cheetahs, at 18-13, were back in it.
However, two penalties by Hernandez took it beyond them.
The Cheetahs still chased a bonus point, but the pace of the game and the Sharks' control of possession had tired them - and their six-match winning run had come to an end.
Man of the match: There were many heroes in the Sharks team - none bigger than captain and fullback Stefan Terblanche - his moment of sheer brilliance that set up the Waylon Murray try - while Juan Martin Hernández also showed his international class. For the Cheetahs the main attacking forces were Sevens Springboks Lionel Mapoe and Fabian Juries - the latter a late replacement for Hennie Daniller at fullback. However, our award goes to Cheetahs No.8 Ashley Johnson - who left his mark on the game in no uncertain terms. Both on defence and attack he was worth his considerable weight in gold, as he just kept racing his big body around the field like a backline star.
The scorers:
For the Sharks:
Tries: Murray, Burden
Cons: Hernández
Pens: Hernández 3
DG: Terblanche
For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Johnson, Jonker
Pen: Potgieter
Teams:
The Sharks: 15 Stefan
Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Juan Hernández, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 John Smit, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
Cheetahs: 15 Fabian Juries, 14 JW Jonker, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Frans Viljoen, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Hendro Scholtz, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 George Whitehead.
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
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