Gutsy Sharks down Reds

Gutsy Sharks down Reds

17 Mar 2012

JON CARDINELLI watched the Sharks fight back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Reds 27-22 on Saturday.

The hosts trailed 17-0 after 28 minutes despite a gale force wind at their backs. It was during this period where they looked a frantic and disorganised unit, dropping passes and missing tackles to allow the Reds’ momentum and scoring opportunities. At that stage of the game, they were staring down the barrell of a big hiding.

But it was in that period right before half-time where they showed a belief that belied their inferior breakdown effort and lack of synergy. Replacement lock Jandre Marais rumbled over the line following an outstanding build up, and a Pat Lambie conversion further narrowed the deficit.

Reds winger Digby Ioane was also yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle right on the half-time buzzer, allowing Lambie to add an extra three points before the break.

Two different teams emerged from the Kings Park tunnel in the second half. The hosts drew confidence from the manner in which they had finished the first half, while the Reds’ grew more desperate as the game wore on.

The visitors’ effort was seriously hampered when they lost first-choice goal-kicker Mike Harris in the 23rd minute and flyhalf Ben Lucas early in the second stanza. This meant that the dangerous Will Genia was forced to stand in the first-receiver channel, thus eliminating the tremendous threat around the ruck which had caused the Sharks defence massive problems in the first half.

The Reds scrapped for survival, but while they only conceded six points during Ioane’s absence, they failed to get out of their own territory.

Keegan Daniel made a fantastic call as a captain, turning down the three-point option and keeping the heat on the Reds. It was fitting that he eventually breached the visitors’ defence, breaking from the back of the scrum to help the Sharks take a 20-17 lead.

While the Sharks never quite closed out the match, they had the momentum for the rest of the contest. Apart from Daniel, Willem Alberts and Marcell Coetzee were huge at the point of contact, and Bismarck du Plessis produced a magnificent performance at the breakdown. So often it was the Springbok hooker who effected a turnover that led to a telling counter-attack.

The Reds looked to have wrested back the initiative when reserve halfback Nick Frisby intercepted a Sharks pass and sparked a try. But the Sharks hit back immediately thanks to a Du Plessis turnover deep in Reds territory.

The heavies took the ball up before it was moved out wide, Riaan Viljoen not only crossing the line but dotting down closer to the uprights to ensure Lambie would enjoy an easier conversion attempt.

What followed was a frantic finish to the match, as both teams went all out to secure the clincher. Genia, the third-choice goal-kicker following the injuries to Harris and Lucas, had missed the conversion to Frisby’s try, and fluffed a simple penalty in the final 10 minutes.

It was thereafter where captain James Horwill was forced to turn down kickable penalties. Unfortunately for the Reds, they just couldn’t make an impression with ball in hand on an excellent and determined Sharks defence.

The hosts had the chance to score a bonus-point try close to full time, but were denied when the Reds turned the ball over at the breakdown. Considering the first-half deficit, coach John Plumtree will be ecstatic that the Sharks managed to get the four points let alone bank the maximum.

The result ensures the Sharks travel Down Under on the back of two good wins. For the Reds, it won’t get any easier as they will head up to Loftus Versfeld next week to tackle the Bulls.


240 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 » Show All

  • 1.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 15:27 pm

    sharks xv 3 – wp 3 : vodacom cup.

  • 2.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:03 pm

    Please do updates on Sharks game when it starts am not able to watch for the first time ever :sad:

  • 3.ShaunSwindon: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:04 pm

    This is going to be a tough game for the Sharks :(

  • 4.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:20 pm

    Come on Sharks, need the Aussie teams to lose as many out of conference games as possible.

  • 5.cab: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:23 pm

    come on sharkies, let the games begin, reds got a helluva loosetrio tho.

  • 6.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:24 pm

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-2: Shame Hugsy we’ll keep you updated. :)

  • 7.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:30 pm

    radike samo is as useless as kankowski is, he will pounce on intercepts and all that but in terms of grunt he is powderpuff.

  • 8.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:31 pm

    Hugsy is welcome to feel up my dates.

  • 9.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:33 pm

    BIIG Game SHARKSS!!! COMMON MANNA!!!!

  • 10.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:46 pm

    Huge Grudge watch after RWC, Wales vs Fra for the GS title, gna be a cracker!

  • 11.cab: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:52 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-7:
    they get the grunt from the two flankers, samo is 6ft6 with the skills of a flyhalf.

  • 12.ufo: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:53 pm

    Go Sharks…!!!

  • 13.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 16:59 pm

    Watsup Guns watcha workout today?

  • 14.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:10 pm

    Feck now wales france is on at the same time
    :evil:

  • 15.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:11 pm

    @cab(cab)-11: the No7 likes to get stuck in.

    Good Scrumaging by Sharks.

    Reds 7 keeps breaking bind early..

  • 16.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:11 pm

    @cab(cab)-11: oh really? watch & see how many times scott higginbotham will be on the wing…

    samo is a ruck inspector, useless.

  • 17.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:11 pm

    Try Time Wales!!!

  • 18.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:12 pm

    Wales 7 – 3 France

  • 19.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:14 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-13:
    Hey Dawn, hit some chest today, a mate took some vid footage too lol so I may post the vid at some point, will keep u posted if you want to see ha ha..

  • 20.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:14 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-14:

    Not sure if this link will work in SA but BBC broadcasts live games on the net http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcone/watchlive/

  • 21.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:15 pm

    Don’t see JP, but Whitehead already spilled a ball at the tackle to a turn over, tradition is still in place ;)

  • 22.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:17 pm

    FOK MAN no!!!!!!!!!

  • 23.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:18 pm

    Try Reds.

  • 24.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:18 pm

    Did I just Bismarck give a penalty away again XD

  • 25.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:18 pm

    Good Try

  • 26.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:19 pm

    Wake up Sharks ffs..

  • 27.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:19 pm

    Conversion good 7-0 Reds

  • 28.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:19 pm

    Course I wanna see!

  • 29.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:19 pm

    Tackle low Bismark ffs..

  • 30.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:21 pm

    Feck !!!!!!!! Did Bismarck stiff up again ?

  • 31.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:21 pm

    @Guns(Guns)-19: Chest Rockwell?

  • 32.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:22 pm

    Calm people.

    Game is young still.

  • 33.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:23 pm

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-30: Reds running very well at the moment. Sharks looking shaky.

  • 34.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:23 pm

    Penalty Reds. Shot at goal.

  • 35.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:24 pm

    Reds looking good in early on in open play..

  • 36.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:24 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-34: miss

  • 37.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:24 pm

    Penalty under the crossbar. Reprieve for the Sharks

  • 38.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:24 pm

    Under the post.. Thaught it went strait through.

  • 39.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:25 pm

    SB. Guns works various parts of anatomy regularly.

    Vin Diesel.

  • 40.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:25 pm

    Reds are holding their own in the scrum and looking good in the loose.

  • 41.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:26 pm

    Reds running the ball up nicely again. They look very explosive given just a small gap.

  • 42.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:27 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-39: I know Dawnie.

    So do I.

  • 43.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:27 pm

    Sharks are missing first time tackles..they need to make sure that there defensive line holds if they want any chance in this game..

  • 44.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:28 pm

    Pls man don’t call me dawnie.

    So you too are vin diesel

  • 45.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:29 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-44: Sorry.

    Nope

    I have more hair.

  • 46.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:30 pm

    Where is John Smi when you need him…

  • 47.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:31 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-45:
    Me too atm.. ha ha..

  • 48.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:33 pm

    Weird weather at this game

  • 49.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:36 pm

    Faaaaarking Pathetic sharks…
    Faark this…

  • 50.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 17:36 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-48: One mite have guessed the rain would benifit the sharks… F Jokers..

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