Sharks break into Top 8 with win against Chiefs

The Sharks 28-24 win against the Chiefs in Durban have moved them into the seventh place on the overall Super Rugby table and into second in the South African Conference.

Sharks flyhalf Robert du Preez scored 17 points with a try, three conversions and two penalties.

The Sharks will be disappointed they weren’t able to get a bonus point win against a Chiefs line-up missing 20 frontline players because of injury, suspension and All Blacks camp commitments.

The Chiefs, to their credit, were gutsy and deserved to get the losing bonus point. Given the enforced absence of so many of their squad it was remarkable that they were so competitive. The visitors, early in the second half, actually led 17-15 before the Sharks took control in the third quarter to be ahead 28-17.

A try in the final movement of the game gave the visitors the league table point that keeps them in the competition’s top six.

This was just the Sharks second win in the last eight matches against the Chiefs.

The teams were level 10-all at halftime.

Live Match Centre

Sharks – Tries: Rob du Preez, Lwazi Mvovo, Cameron Wright. Conversions: Du Preez (2). Penalties: Du Preez (3).
Chiefs – Tries: Tyler Paul, Charlie Ngatai, Solomon Alaimalo. Conversions: Marty McKenzie (3). Penalty: McKenzie.

Teams:

Sharks

15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Makazole Mapimpi

Sharks – Tries: Rob du Preez, Lwazi Mvovo, Cameron Wright. Conversions: Du Preez (2). Penalties: Du Preez (3).
Chiefs – Tries: Tyler Paul, Charlie Ngatai, Solomon Alaimalo. Conversions: Marty McKenzie (3). Penalty: McKenzie.

Chiefs

15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Charlie Ngatai (captain), 12 Johnny Fa’auli, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Liam Messam, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Tyler Ardron, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Liam Polwart, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe

Substitutes: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Luteru Laulala, 23 Toni Pulu

Match Commentary

• It’s all over! The referee has blown his whistle to end the game.
• 80+1‘Marty McKenzie adds the two points for Chiefs.
• 80‘Luteru Laulala played a key part in that try.
• 80‘Brilliant skill shown there by Solomona Alaimalo as he goes over the white wash for a try.
• 80‘A gap opened in the defence and Solomona Alaimalo took full advantage.
• 79‘Sharks have won 80 rucks so far this game.
• 79‘Michael Allardice has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 74‘Chiefs have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 73‘Jeff Thwaites comes on for Chiefs.
• 73‘Angus Taavao-Matau leaves the field.
• 71‘Ross Geldenhuys comes on.
• 71‘Thomas du Toit comes off.
• 70‘Pita Sowakula has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 67‘The defensive line has been broken as Makazole Mapimpi goes through the gap.
• 67‘Try saving tackle made by Luke Jacobson.
• 67‘Luteru Laulala comes on.
• 67‘Jonathan Faauli comes off.
• 66‘Robert du Preez does the business as his penalty goal attempt goes over.
• 65‘Matt Matich comes on.
• 65‘Tyler Ardron comes off.
• 63‘Sharks decide to make a substitution, with Marius Louw getting some game time.
• 63‘Sharks decide to make a substitution, with Andre Esterhuizen being replaced.
• 63‘Sharks make a substitution with Juan Schoeman coming on.
• 63‘Sharks make a substitution with Tendai Mtawarira coming off.
• 63‘Chiefs sub Toni Pulu comes onto the field.
• 63‘Shaun Stevenson departs for Chiefs.
• 62‘Sharks have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 61‘What a run here by Sean Wainui as they gets over the gainline!.
• 60‘Lukhanyo Am makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 60‘Jesse Parete comes on for Chiefs.
• 60‘Liam Messam leaves the field.
• 57‘Robert du Preez does the business as his conversion attempt goes over.
• 57‘Cameron Wright goes on his own for a try.
• 57‘Fabulous play by Sharks has led to Cameron Wright being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 55‘Stephan Lewies comes on.
• 55‘Ruan Botha comes off.
• 55‘Jacques Vermeulen comes on.
• 55‘Jean-Luc du Preez comes off.
• 55‘Cameron Wright comes on.
• 55‘Louis Schreuder comes off.
• 55‘Sharks decide to make a substitution, with Franco Marais getting some game time.
• 55‘Sharks decide to make a substitution, with Armand van der Merwe being replaced.
• 55‘Chiefs make a substitution with Sam Prattley coming on.
• 55‘Chiefs make a substitution with Karl Tuinukuafe coming off.
• 53‘Robert du Preez steps up to take the penalty but pulls it wide and to the right.
• 50‘Robert du Preez makes no mistake with that penalty goal attempt.
• 50‘Chiefs sub Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi comes onto the field.
• 50‘Brad Weber departs for Chiefs.
• 47‘Marty McKenzie makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.
• 46‘A bit of individual brilliance by Charlie Ngatai leads to a try for Chiefs.
• 46‘Trouble here as Charlie Ngatai breaches the defence.
• 45‘Samisoni Taukei’aho comes on for Chiefs.
• 45‘Liam Polwart leaves the field.
• 44‘Sharks have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 42‘Robert du Preez has hooked the conversion to the right of the posts.
• 42‘That’s a great try assist by Lukhanyo Am.
• 41‘A series of passes by Sharks results in a try for Lwazi Mvovo.
• 41‘This is dangerous for the defence as Lwazi Mvovo bursts through to advance the Sharks attack.
• 41‘A gap opened in the defence and Sibusiso Nkosi took full advantage.
• 40‘Makazole Mapimpi comes on.
• 40‘Curwin Bosch comes off.
• 40‘The second half is underway.
• 40+1‘The half-time whistle blows and both teams’ head for the dressing rooms.
• 38‘The defensive line has been broken as Lukhanyo Am goes through the gap.
• 36‘Marty McKenzie kicks the penalty.
• 26‘Sharks have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 22‘What a run here by Curwin Bosch as they gets over the gainline!.
• 22‘Chiefs have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 22‘What a tackle there by Shaun Stevenson as he saves a certain try!.
• 18‘Marty McKenzie converts the try.
• 17‘A stunning solo try from Tyler Ardron.
• 11‘Phillip Van Der Walt makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 11‘Fabulous play by Chiefs has led to Liam Messam being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 10‘Robert du Preez has kicked a conversion.
• 9‘Great hands by Sharks leads to a try for Robert du Preez.
• 9‘Trouble here as Robert du Preez breaches the defence.
• 9‘Louis Schreuder sets up the try.
• 9‘This is dangerous for the defence as Armand van der Merwe bursts through to advance the Sharks attack.
• 8‘A gap opened in the defence and Lwazi Mvovo took full advantage.
• 5‘The defensive line has been broken as Sibusiso Nkosi goes through the gap.
• 4‘Robert du Preez has kicked a penalty goal.
•  We are underway as the referee blows his whistle.