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Sharks break their duck

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:28

Not this week: Injured lock Johann Muller chats to captain John Smit

The Sharks recorded their first win of the season when they scored a deserved 30-16 win over the Highlanders in their Super 14 Round Six match in Dunedin on Saturday.

For the Sharks enough elation to be encouraged; for the Highlanders enough disappointment to be depressed.

A first win for the Sharks, another defeat for the Highlanders.

Asked afterwards if their were positive for the Highlanders to take from the match, their captain Jimmy Cowan said none.

Asked about what it meant to the Sharks, captain John Smit said they hoped that this was the start of good things as they prepare for meet the Hurricanes in Wellington on their five-match, no-luck tour - no luck till this evening, that is.

Victory came as a relief - a shower of rain in a drought.

As Smit said: "My boys needed that."

It drizzled in Dunedin and so did the match in the first half.  The Highlanders enjoyed the advantage of territory, as the Sharks did in the second half. The Highlanders won the line-outs, were better at scrums and were much, much better at the tackle where the  Sharks found no grafters. For all that the Highlanders could not score a try. In the second half they got one and almost got another. They had promising attacks which fizzled out as the Sharks defended well.

The Sharks got three tries - one a late intercept. In the end they were zealously looking for a fourth try. Up till now they had scored two tries in four matches and now they got three in one. For the first time they scored more tries than their opponents.

The Sharks had a late change and nearly another. Tendai Mtawarira withdrew because of flu and John Smit came on at loosehead's. Andy Goode rolled an ankle but managed to get through moist of the match till Rory Kockott replaced him - and the Sharks looked better.

The Highlanders started well when Josh Bekhuis charged down Ruan Pienaar's kick from a tackle-ruck and Goode saved by flykicking out for a five-metre line-out. The Highlanders bashed but the Sharks held out and then scored. Bekhuis came in at the side of a tackle and Pienaar goaled. 3-0 after 7 minutes.

Back came Adam Thomson as the Sharks let him run and there were the Highlanders battering at the line. They were awarded a penalty under the posts but opted for a scrum and bashed some more with Cowan close. eventually when Keegan Daniel was offside, Israel Dagg goaled. 3-all after 16 minutes.

Dagg got his side attacking again when he collected a high kick by Patrick Lambie, shrugged off the pressure and raced down the field. The Highlanders went through phases and again Daniel was offside and again Dagg goaled to give his side the lead. At this stage the Highlanders were enjoying 85% possession.

But JP Pietersen won the kickoff and Alistair Hargreaves, on for bleeding Johann Muller, burst ahead. Kankowski raced on and then Pienaar was tackled just short of the posts. Bismarck du Plessis bashed the ball to ground at the post and was awarded a try, which Pienaar converted. 10-6 after 23 minutes. Dagg missed two penalty kicks at goal and Ben Smith beat three with a strong run but the Sharks led 10-6 at the break.

The second half was much better for the Sharks as they started in lively and attacking fashion. Kankowski broke and Riaan Swanepoel lost the ball and a golden chance to score a try. Adrian Jacobs broke but the handling went wonky.

The Highlanders attacked from a line-out with a good break by Smith and Michael Hobbs was stopped just short of the line. Jannie du Plessis was penalised there and Dagg made it 10-9 after 49 minutes.

Thomson was penalised for coming in the wrong side of a ruck, and Pienaar made it 13-9 after 52 minutes. The Sharks had a long and enthusiastic maul at which Jamie Mackintosh was penalised. 16-9 after 56 minutes.

The Sharks now put lots of pressure on the Highlanders and took the ball through many phases and went wide left where right wing Stefan Terblanche forced his way between Smith and Dagg to score. Pienaar, who played well at flyhalf, converted from touch. 23-9.

Robbie Robinson chipped and collected to set up a Highlanders attack. Pienaar was offside in front to his posts but the Highlanders opted for a scrum - a good scrum. The ball went from Thomson to Cowan. The scrumhalf did a scissors with Smith who powered ahead through Kankowski and over for the try. Dagg converted from far out. 23-16 with 13 minutes to play.

The proud Highlanders attacked again with Robinson and Dagg prominent and Hobbs close.  Steven Sykes was penalised at a tackle  and again the Highlanders scrummed. They went left and Hobbs broke before Fetu'u Vainikolo went racing down the left touch-line. He beat one and dived for the corner as Kankowski tackled him. It went to the television match official, Colin Hawke, who ruled that Vainikolo had been touch-in-goal and the Sharks dropped out.

A highlanders attack became static and Jayden Hayward swivelled to pass to his right but Adi Jacobs intercepted and had a loping, but unimpeded run to the posts. Pienaar converted. 30-16. There were just two minutes to play. The Highlanders wanted a try for a bonus point and so did the Sharks. The Sharks had the better  chance but eventually the game ended.

Man of the Match: For the Highlanders' there was another great performance by Israel Dagg and Robbie Robinson was effective, as was busy Adam Thomson. For the Sharks Ryan Kankowski and Ruan Pienaar  were outstanding, as was the teenage fullback Patrick Lambie who was brilliant under the high ball, his positional play impeccable. But our Man of the Match is John Smit - simply for his guts. He spent all 80 minutes at loosehead in 18 scrums and made good fist of it, and at the end was still able to smile. Just for that - apart from bursts of energy around the field, we choose him as Man of the Match.

The scorers:

For the Highlanders:
Try: Smith
Con: Dagg
Pens: Dagg 3

For the Sharks:
Tries: B du Plessis, Terblanche, Jacobs
Cons: Pienaar 3
Pens: Pienaar 3

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 James Paterson, 10 Robbie Robinson, 9 Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 John Hardie, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16. Jason Macdonald, 17 Chris King, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Jayden Hayward, 22 Fetu'u Vainikolo.

The Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Stefan Terblanche, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Johann Muller (captain), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 John Smit.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehan Herbst, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Waylon Murray.

Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

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