Sharks break their losing curse

May 23 • General News, Super Rugby • 1926 Views • Comments Off on Sharks break their losing curse

The Cell C Sharks head into Round 15 of this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby competition on a six match losing streak, as they traveled to Brisbane to face the Queensland Reds at the Suncorp Stadium.

Heading into this match the Reds have won just two of their last nine Super Rugby fixtures against the Sharks, dating back to 2006. Two of the Sharks’ biggest victories came in 2007, when the Sharks scored nine tries in a massive 59 – 16 win and a famous 30 – 17 win in their 2011 qualifier before traveling back to South Africa to face the Stormers in the semi-final before heading back to New Zealand to face the Chiefs in the final.

Both teams scored one try in each half, but the reliable boot of Francois Steyn added three penalties to give the Sharks a 21 – 14 win.

Sharks’ inside center, Francois Steyn kicked the Sharks’ first points through a penalty to give his team a 3 – 0 lead after seven minutes.

Ten minutes later scrumhalf, Stefan Ungerer scored a briliant solo try from just outside the Reds twenty two when he ran down the big blind side after a pick-and-go from behind the scrum. Steyn added the conversion as the Sharks took a 10 – 0 lead after eighteen minutes.

Defence let the Sharks down deep inside the Reds’ half, as they broke through the Sharks’ first line of defence to score their first try at the other end of the field. James O’Conner added the touch line conversion to bring his team within three points, 7 – 10 after twenty five minutes.

Steyn kicked another two successful penalties to give them a nine point lead at half time, 16 – 7.

The Reds scored their second try ten minutes into the second half when Samu Kerevi crashed over the try line. O’Connor added the extras from right infront as they trailed 14 – 16 after fifty two minutes.

Ungerer scored the Sharks’ and his second try after a poor clearance from O’Connor was kicked straight at him. He literally walked over the try line in probably the easiest try he will ever score. Sharks flyhalf, Lionel Cronje missed the conversion but the Sharks had a seven point lead as the game reached the final ten minutes.

Dispite a strong attacking effort in the final ten minutes from the homeside, the Sharks held on for ten minutes to record their first tour win as the game ended 21 – 14.

Scorers:

Reds: (7) 14 – Tries: Chris Kuridrani, Samu Kerevi. Conversions: James O’Connor (2).

Cell C Sharks: (16) 21 – Tries: Stefan Ungerer (2). Conversion: Francois Steyn. Penalties: Francois Steyn (3).

Written by Pierre Mc Leod