Sharks do the business in Bloem

Sharks do the business in Bloem

19 May 2012

GARETH DUNCAN watched the Sharks record a 34-20 bonus-point win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

While it wasn’t a convincing 80-minute performance, it was an important triumph as the Sharks continue to strengthen their play-off chances after an inconsistent and poor start to the season.

There’s a new look to John Plumtree’s charges compared to the team that disappointed in March and April. Against the Cheetahs, they displayed a more accurate and clinical attack, while their defence showed great resolve. Flyhalf Frederic Michalak was also impressive with the boot, slotting six of seven goal attempts.

Their ill-discipline is a concern and it gave the hosts a platform to reduce a 10-point deficit early in the second stanza, but the Sharks had great composure in the final quarter to grab a fourth try at the death to seal a 14-point win.

It was a closely-contested first half as the lead changed hands four times. The Sharks dominated the forwards battle, which was pivotal in the build-up of two of their three tries in the opening stanza.

The first score came during the opening moments, when the Durban outfit ran 12 phases before JP Pietersen sneaked in at the corner. Bismarck du Plessis was powerful in the build-up, as his carries broke the Cheetahs defence on two occasions.

The Sharks dotted down for a second try after Michalak capitalised on a favourable bounce in the Cheetahs red zone. A penalty tap move, which involved good interplay between forwards and backs, saw the visitors power over on the stroke of half-time.

But they would’ve been disappointed with a 21-14 lead at the break. The Cheetahs scored a soft try via Adriaan Strauss as the Sharks should’ve forced play into touch. Riaan Smit also slotted three penalties.

The Sharks slumped in the third quarter, with Du Plessis receiving a yellow card for a no-arms charge. During his absence, Sias Ebersohn slotted two penalties to cut the Sharks’ advantage. The Cheetahs had a good chance to score their second try, but they were penalised for illegal clearing at the rucks, 5m out from the chalk.

When Du Plessis returned from the sin bin, the Sharks regained the ascendancy and the Cheetahs’ fight faded. After being frustrated on attack for most parts of the final 40, a late rally put Meyer Bosman through out wide – a fine finish to clinch a vital victory.


211 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 » Show All

  • 1.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:17 pm

    Go die Staat.
    Put them out of their misery.

  • 2.carol: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:27 pm

    ‘die staat’

    What is that?

  • 3.RL: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:30 pm

    Go my little kitty’s. Moer hulle.

  • 4.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:38 pm

    come Cheetahtjies I know its probably asking a bridge too far to go up against these underhanded pompous sons of the last bastion of divide and rule pestiferous pilferage and mercenary mercantile mercilessness for a fully emblazoned no quarter asked or given 80 minutes .. but dig deep and shove those marauding moguls from across the Drakensberg straight back in their sharkievarkie straight jackets and send them back to pompous pompom land in a puffy pimpled up heap of plaited pompom tails.

  • 5.Michael: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:38 pm

    Toughie. I would like the Sharks to win to increase the chances of another side in the playoffs. On the other hand, a Cheets win would be like HG getting a handjob three-quarters done.

  • 6.Michael: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:39 pm

    @skopskiet(skopskiet)-4: Why not tell us how you really feel :-)

    Pity Goosen is out.

  • 7.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:45 pm

    This is gonna go south fast once the great whites get here

  • 8.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:46 pm

    Gonna go call them off the other thread …

  • 9.FckU2: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:47 pm

    John Plumtree mourning the death of Disco Queen Donna Summer. Good luck Cheetahs.

  • 10.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:50 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-8: To late Dawn , skopclown already put the level at the lowest point possible

  • 11.Guns: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:51 pm

    Die Haai sal die kitties lekker naai op die veld!

  • 12.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:52 pm

    lambie out

  • 13.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:53 pm

    fred starting

  • 14.Michael: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:55 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-12: What did Lamb pull this time?

  • 15.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:56 pm

    Man now something scared them outta the water!

    They were all there discussing their wangers!

  • 16.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:57 pm

    He was bit concussed last week

  • 17.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:58 pm

    @Michael(mikeybrass)-14: nAH the stormers do the pulling :wonk:

  • 18.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 16:59 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-16: yup i dont think he fully recovered Dawn, Plum said he also had flu?? i reckon Lambie was never going to play

  • 19.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:00 pm

    well that does even things up a bit

  • 20.Michael: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:03 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-17: The leaders always do.

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-19: Yup. A rookie vs the Frenchie. Pretty even.

  • 21.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:04 pm

    Cheetahs done the right thing dropping down in the dumps Sias and promoting the inimical ray of hope Riaan Smit to take on little lambiepambiekins..

    now wouldn’t it just be a dandy dainty dish to set before a downtrodden destitute dichotomy of destiny if young unheralded Smittiekins handed messiah in waiting Lambiekins his overrated arse on a plaited silvery platter .. just for mos sakes .. or even for a little bit of titty for tat karmic distributional retribution evening out the wrongdoings of the marauding misplaced mercenary machinations from across the misty mountains.

  • 22.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:04 pm

    Ndugane onto the bench for Fred that starts

  • 23.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:04 pm

    Cheetahs deserve a win. Cmon Cheetahs.

  • 24.Guns: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:05 pm

    Fook nam.. Where is Bambie!!?

  • 25.Guns: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:06 pm

    Man**

  • 26.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:06 pm

    @skopskiet(skopskiet)-21: Skop, alliteration is overrated. Leave it to the Keolite headline writers.

  • 27.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:08 pm

    so Lambiekins is out.. that gives Sharkies a bit more premonitory promotional promise. Now Smittiekins got nobody to go up against unless it that other ex Cheetah mercenary mucka the Lem of the bosbefokte Bos.

  • 28.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:08 pm

    Bismarck is taking out his competition for the Bok No.2 jersey.

  • 29.Guns: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:09 pm

    Bismark making Strauss & the Cheetahs his B*tch! :D

  • 30.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:09 pm

    try sharks
    Bissy starting like a house on fire

  • 31.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:09 pm

    Too easy … how do you like them apples, Skop?

  • 32.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:10 pm

    come cheetahs skop their gatte back to where they once belonged ..

  • 33.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:11 pm

    seven to nil
    nice
    sharkslover when i am in your valley again we need to go for dops

  • 34.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:12 pm

    bissie to adriaan: “ek is baas” :-)

  • 35.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:13 pm

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-33: for sure

  • 36.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:14 pm

    mcleod with a rubbish pass again

    FFS if we just had a decent scrummy we would be so much better

  • 37.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:16 pm

    Where is Robertson chicken spice Duskeeeee

  • 38.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:16 pm

    feck i could pass a empty cardboard box better than mcloud is passing a rugby ball.

  • 39.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:17 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-34: :lol:

  • 40.Michael: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:18 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-36: Frenchie, McLeod and Hoffman, and not one decent pass between them.

    Looks like AC was right to have gotten rid of Hoffman.

  • 41.Michael: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:18 pm

    Reckon Bissie likes playing with Beastie.

  • 42.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:19 pm

    Where is that 1987 communications award winner mal oog

  • 43.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:20 pm

    GAME BEING PLAYED AT A FRENETIC PACE

  • 44.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:21 pm

    @Michael(mikeybrass)-40: agreed

  • 45.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:21 pm

    Where are the sharks for the sharks game

    They all hung out on the lions thread

  • 46.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:24 pm

    prawn,get a life and stop looking for attention.

  • 47.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:26 pm

    Just ignore me like you said.

    Lice ridden wanger

  • 48.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:28 pm

    I see the Cheetahs are copying the Bulls’ human centipede tactic.

  • 49.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:30 pm

    Amper Sharks.

  • 50.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    19 May 2012, 17:30 pm

    Sharkies dominating collisions

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