Tahs secure stunning win
The Waratahs secured a superb bonus point win as they battled back to beat the Sharks 34-30.
Last Updated: 24/03/12 6:41am
The Waratahs secured a superb bonus point win as they battled back to beat the Sharks 34-30.
The home side, who were booed off the pitch following their defeat to the Force last time out, looked in trouble as they trailed 24-13 after 51 minutes in Sydney.
However they were rewarded for their never-say-die attitude with a thrilling win.
Brendan McKibbin, Bernard Foley, Tom Carter and Tom Kingston all crossed for tries - with McKibbin adding a further 12 points with the boot, while Berrick Barnes slotted over a late conversion.
Patrick Lambie landed 15 points for the Sharks, who had also led 30-27 with nine minutes left, while Lwazi Mvovo, Keegan Daniel and Bismarck du Plessis crossed for tries.
The Sharks had opened the scoring in the third minute when Meyer Bosman put Mvovo away down the blindside. Lambie converted.
The Waratahs responded with a penalty from McKibbin, only for Lambie to reply with a three-pointer of his own.
Rolling maul
The home side were level after 21 minutes when McKibbin scooted over from close range after Adam Ashley-Cooper had been stopped short of the line, with the scrum-half tagging on the extras.
The Sharks restored their seven-point advantage as Daniel powered over after a rolling maul, with Lambie converting - only for McKibbin to hit back with a penalty.
The Natal-based franchise must have thought they had opened up a decisive lead when du Plessis peeled off the back of a maul to dot score 10 minutes after the interval.
However the Tahs responded immediately with Foley scampering over after Sitaleki Timani and Wycliff Palu had made good inroads.
McKibbin was on target with the conversion and then added the extras on 57 minutes as the home side moved in front following Carter's try - with the centre profiting after Foley's break out wide.
Lambie levelled scores with a penalty before putting the Sharks 30-27 up with another three-pointer.
However the Tahs had the final word as the Timani brothers combined to release Palu, with the No.8 finding Kingston out wide to score in the corner. Barnes converted.