Sharks bite back
The Sharks came from behind to beat the Stormers 12-10 in a thrilling Super 14 derby encounter in Durban on Saturday.
Last Updated: 23/02/08 5:52pm
The Sharks came from behind to beat the Stormers 12-10 in a thrilling Super 14 derby encounter in Durban on Saturday.
French star Frederic Michalak's debut for the hosts had dominated the headlines in the build-up to the game, but it was youngster Rory Kockott who made the biggest impact kicking three second-half penalties to make it two wins from two for the Sharks.
South African international Ruan Pienaar scored the Sharks' only try in a match that had all the physicality expected of a South African derby, and which was ultimately settled on ill-discipline.
Sloppy
The home team made all the early running, but Pienaar pulled his 35-yard penalty chance wide of the posts and the Stormers made them pay.
Enrico Januarie opened the scoring after good build-up play from his forwards. Peter Grant's initial push saw him fall inches short, but Januarie dummied and powerfully drove over for the game's opening score. Grant kicked the conversion and the Stormers led 7-0.
Francois Steyn missed another chance for the Sharks and worse was to follow as the full-back spilled the ball with the tryline gaping.
Fly-half Grant then extended the Stormers' lead to 10-0 on the stroke of half-time, with the home side still shell-shocked.
Indiscipline
But coach Dick Muir's team talk worked wonders as the Sharks came out strongly and World Cup winning flanker Schalk Burger was soon yellow carded in the 47th minute.
Pienaar put the ensuing penalty over to reduce the deficit to seven and the Sharks then ground down the Stormers with their man advantage. Despite substitute Kockott's first missed penalty chance the yougster redeemed himself on the hour mark as the Sharks closed the score to 10-6.
Dylan Des Fountain was penalised for repeatedly holding on 65 minutes and Kockott converted another three-pointer to reduce the gap down to one.
The 20-year-old's 30-yard penalty in the 71st minute gave the home team the lead for the first time, following Luke Watson's high tackle, and the Sharks held on for a tough win.
