Sharks given a scare
The Sharks escaped a humiliating defeat by beating a determined Highlanders side 19-17 in Dunedin on Friday.
Last Updated: 11/04/08 11:09am
The Sharks escaped a humiliating defeat by beating a determined Highlanders side 19-17 in a closely fought Super 14 encounter in Dunedin on Friday.
The Highlanders had a chance to cause the biggest upset in the tournament with a penalty kick to win the game five minutes from full-time, but James Wilson missed the shot by a whisker.
Had the kick been successful, the Sharks would have been kicking themselves after failing on four occasions to extend their two-point lead with simple penalty attempts.
Instead, the visitors had to rely on a Ryan Kankowski intercept try, coupled with a trademark long-range penalty from Francois Steyn in the second half to win them the match and maintain their unbeaten record in the 2008 competition.
The Highlanders were halfway to ending the Sharks' unbeaten record going into the half-time sheds 17-11 up after two well-worked tries by winger Fetu'u Vainikolo and prop Clint Newland had the visitors hanging on the ropes.
But like the Sharks, the home side failed to build on to their lead in the second half; a Wilson penalty before the break would be the last time the Highlanders were able to put any points on the board.
The Sharks managed to get on the scoreboard in the first half courtesy of a try by flanker Jaques Botes and two penalties from Ruan Pienaar.
