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

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  • 101.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:22 pm

    another penalty in the red zone..ref will have to go for a yellow if the reds keep this up..Sharks try!!

  • 102.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:22 pm

    TRY!!! Daniels!!! Were are the haters????? :P

  • 103.cab: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:22 pm

    Daniel over, fast, sharks looking good, alberts back to his best.

  • 104.Sharks jou lekker ding: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:23 pm

    Can’t decide who I’m pissed off with most between Jonathan Kaplan, Joel Stransky and Riaan Viljoen!

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

    @Guns(Guns)-102:
    lol, guns i see your spirits have picked up…

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

    Converts..20 – 17

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

    Excellent come-back…. kudos… Reds not the same with Genia and the rest off…

  • 108.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:26 pm

    try reds..forced passed intercepted..

  • 109.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:26 pm

    WTF Was that they just watched him score!!!
    FFS sharks could have been another 2/3 tries up but no.. F cuck…

  • 110.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:26 pm

    reds score!

  • 111.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:26 pm

    Poor Missed tackle Bismark..

  • 112.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:27 pm

    Sharks 20-22 Reds

  • 113.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:27 pm

    …….. shambolic. They fight all the way back and then. Ag.

  • 114.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:28 pm

    Try Viljoen..

  • 115.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:28 pm

    VILJOEN what a powerfull runner!!! Another bok 15 contender!

  • 116.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:29 pm

    Bismarck steels the ball in reds 22 leads to Viljoens try, 27-22 Sharks..

  • 117.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:29 pm

    Great response. Lovely steal from Bismarck.

  • 118.Sharks jou lekker ding: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:29 pm

    All is forgiven Riaan :-)

  • 119.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:30 pm

    sharks reply with a try of their own! open game this

  • 120.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:30 pm

    Thx Sormersboy and Tartan,

    Guns, I think he is nothing more than a an excellent impact player, in the full game he is more often a liability.

  • 121.cab: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:31 pm

    sharks can taste the blood in the water…

  • 122.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:31 pm

    Sharks starting to man up. ’bout fuckingtime.

  • 123.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:31 pm

    I mean these Reds away jersey looks like valentines day wrapping paper from Cardies.

  • 124.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:32 pm

    Well done wales!

  • 125.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:33 pm

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-120: He creates more scoring opportunities for his team than he creates for the opposition..Id pick him in my starting line up any day of the week..

  • 126.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:34 pm

    Charteris my man!

  • 127.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:35 pm

    Nail biting game here..

  • 128.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:35 pm

    Reds getting close to the sharks line..advantage to Reds..penalty in Sharks 22 for Reds..

  • 129.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:36 pm

    Genia misses the penalty..

  • 130.cab: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:36 pm

    good game, end to end stuff, lambie kicking away too much possession tho, sharks pack were getting some momentum, this could go either way..

  • 131.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:37 pm

    Gatland RWC revenge taken.

  • 132.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:37 pm

    @cab(cab)-130:
    Ja, that was an excellent counter ruck just before he chipped it away.

  • 133.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:38 pm

    Sharks really dominating the game at the moment..

  • 134.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:38 pm

    Jeez I am missing a fabulous game.

  • 135.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:39 pm

    @cab(cab)-130: Its not that he kick away possession, its just that its bad kicks every time..

  • 136.cab: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:39 pm

    why they taken alberts off?! fools.

  • 137.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:41 pm

    Sharks defence is now really beginning to force errors from the Reds.

    @cab(cab)-136:
    He probably can’t do the full 80min yet.

  • 138.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:42 pm

    uncontested scrums from here on..9mins left on the clock.. stil 27-22 Sharks..

  • 139.cab: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:42 pm

    coetzee and botes good, but now they got noone to get over adv line, think sharkies might have made a bad move, shoulda kept alberts on even at lock..

  • 140.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:43 pm

    Penalty Reds in the 22 of the sharks..Sharks moving backwards and allowing Reds back into the game..Reds take scrum..

  • 141.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:44 pm

    eish this is going to be close

  • 142.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:45 pm

    Reds driving the ball up. Playing good posession.

  • 143.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:46 pm

    Mvovo has had a solid game and very good on defence tonight, infact one of best defenders on the pitch today i reckon..

  • 144.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:46 pm

    15 phases later back in the Reds 22 Sharks gets scrum..

  • 145.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:46 pm

    Common sharks maul that ball over the try line!! Penalty won, sharks.

  • 146.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:47 pm

    What a tackle McLeod

  • 147.cab: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:47 pm

    looks like the sharks going to sneak it breaking out of own 22 from a mcleod tackle.

  • 148.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:47 pm

    Sharks on Reds line…

  • 149.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:47 pm

    Red making the hard yards in the sharks 22 until a great tackle and clearance. Sharks turn it right round and now camped on Red’s 5yrd line with a scrum.

    McLeod shook himself up putting in the big hit, but looks okay.

  • 150.Guns: Reply to this comment
    17 Mar 2012, 18:48 pm

    Fok penalty turned given to the reds..

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