Sharks bite to beat Blues
The Sharks emerged with their 100 percent record intact as they ended the Blues' own unbeaten start in Durban.
Last Updated: 08/03/08 8:53pm
The Sharks emerged with their 100 percent record intact as they ended the Auckland Blues' own unbeaten start with two Keegan Daniel tries doing the damage in Durban.
Something had to give with both sides entering the match with three winso ut of three so far, but it was the hosts who came away still unbeaten thanks to a 22-17 success.
The Sharks made a lightning quick start with Daniel flying over after just 20 seconds when he chased the kick-off, caught the tap back from Bismarck du Plessis and scampered across the line.
The Sharks had less ball, but were cleverer with it, and scored their second try after 20 minutes when Brad Barritt's grubber went beyond the final defender and into the grateful arms of Johann Muller. Rory Kockott converted this time to make it 12-0.
12-0 against the Blues was surprise enough, but Daniel was not done yet with his first-half heroics. A penalty in the Blues' 22 was taken quickly by the flanker, and he rushed over the line with a swarm of Blues defenders hanging off him.
Evans attack
Nick Evans reduced the arrears with a penalty moments before half time, but the Blues were a deserved second best at the break, 19-3 down.
Evans began the second half on a brighter note for the Blues, stepping his way through for a try under the posts, which he converted himself, and the visitors woke up.
After some battling, Troy Flavell, after a terrific break from Adi Jacobs, conceded a penalty, and Kockott slotted it to make it 22-10.
Again the Blues were stung into action, and replacement scrum-half Taniela Moa found his way to the try-line, and Evans converted, leaving the Blues now only one score short at 22-17.
For the final seven minutes, the Blues ran at the Sharks in the energy-sapping humidity, but again the limbs began to tire and the defenders held strong.
Freddie Michalak picked up a loose ball off the side of a ruck and was tackled into touch, sending the Absa Stadium into uproar as the final whistle blew.
