Sharks beat WP 28-20

The Sharks ran out convincing 28-20 winners against a decidedly weakened Western Province side in the final round of regular season Currie Cup matches at Newlands on Saturday evening.

Before kick-off, the stage was set for a dead rubber because the result of the earlier Golden Lions - Free State Cheetahs game meant that the Newlands outcome would have no bearing on the eventual log positions by the time the regular season ends later on Saturday evening.

The Sharks needed little to strike up cohesion and their spirited start caught Province napping. They were good for two tries in the opening four minutes when Province defence was in disarray but the Durban visitors had to settle for a lone unconverted touchdown by centre Sibusiso Sithole (5-0).

Province regained their composure soon afterwards and launched a few raids into the Sharks' half where they won ninth and 15th minute penalties.

Flyhalf Kurt Coleman goaled both and Province snatched a one-point lead (6-5), which lasted only two minutes after Sharks flyhalf Lionel Cronje goaled a penalty (8-6).

Halfway the first half, both teams seemed to throw the ball about with gay abandon, and often at the risk of intercepts. Province were enjoying the major share of possession and they made it count as they ran the Sharks' defence ragged.

The result was two converted tries in the space of five minutes and this passage of play seemed to suggest that this backstop Province side was every bit as enterprising as the 'first' team. First centre Pat Howard rounded off splendidly after the Province backline showed delightful touches and then in the 25th minute Coleman sliced through a gap for his side's second try (20-8).

Province continued to impress with a steady stream of attacking sorties much to the delight of the 27 000 crowd but they were twice held up a whisker from the try line and had to return to the dressing room for the halftime break without further advance.

Cronje was on target with a penalty on the stroke of halftime to reduce the lead to nine points (20-11).

After the break, the Sharks were again first out of the blocks and managed to pin Province down in their own half for about 10 minutes after the restart.

The Sharks effort during this stage of the match was worth far more than the six points from two Cronje penalties but rightwing Tonderai Chavhanga failed to gather a poorly timed scoring pass with the tryline at his mercy (20-17).

Province's attemprs to shake the Sharks' hold on the match suffered a setback when their flank Rhynardt Elstadt was yellow carded for a side entry at a loose scrum, and Cronje added insult to injury by goaling the resultant penalty, which leveled scores at 20-all.

The Sharks'™pressure lasted just past the hour mark and they were helped along by several penalties which Province conceded. One of these penalties was booted into touch to set up a maul from the resultant line-out and reserve prop Lourens Adriaanse peeled over for Sharks' second try, which went unconverted (25-20).

By the 65th minute, Province had virtually cleared their substitutes bench but the fresh legs could not regain the initiative.

Virtually the entire second half was played in the Province half and the Sharks would have been disappointed that they had not put the game beyond their opponents by at least the hour mark.

Four minutes from the end Sharks substitute Fred Zeilinga goaled a penalty to round off the scoring in the match (28-20).

Province will meet the BLue Bulls in the semifinal next week.

The Sharks will be away to the Golden Lions in Johannesburg.

Scorers: Western Province: Tries: Pat Howard, Kurt Coleman. Conversions: Coleman (2). Penalties: Coleman (2).

Sharks: Tries: Sibusiso Sithole, Lourens Adriaanse. Penalties: Lionel Cronje (6).