"Really proud of the boys, our defence was outstanding."
Those were the words of Sharks captain Tendai Mtawarira after flyhalf Curwin Bosch kicked two late penalties that helped the Sharks to a 23-15 victory over an ill-disciplined New South Wales Waratahs, who were at one stage reduced to 13 men, in their Super Rugby clash in Sydney yesterday.
"We put up a great effort tonight," Mtawarira, whose team had lost their last two games, said.
The victory moved the Sharks to 26 points and to the top of the tightly contested South African conference, before the Stormers and Bulls met later in the day.
The Waratahs, seeking victory to go top of the Australian conference, lost Jed Holloway when he was sent off by referee Nic Berry for striking Sharks prop Thomas du Toit with his elbow in the 46th minute.
Du Toit was also given a yellow card for holding on to Holloway's jersey, which had prompted the lock to lash out.
Berry gave Waratahs flanker Jack Dempsey a yellow card five minutes later for a dangerous tackle on Sharks winger Sibusiso Nkosi.
Centre Andre Esterhuizen scored a try when the Sharks had a two-man advantage, and No 8 Daniel du Preez crossed in the first half at the newly opened stadium in Parramatta.
Bosch added the rest of the points with two conversions and three penalties, though he also missed two other penalty attempts when they had a numerical advantage.
Foley had given the Waratahs an early lead with a penalty but the Sharks struck back when they finally got some territory downfield as they built up some continuity and Du Preez crashed over. Gordon then put his side back in front with a slick attack down the blindside before Bosch slotted a 29th-minute penalty about three minutes later to lock the score at 10-10.
The flashpoint of the game came early in the second half when Berry issued the cards to Du Toit and Holloway, while Dempsey followed shortly after.
Esterhuizen then capitalised when he smashed over two minutes later and Bosch gave the side breathing room with his two long-range penalties, before Foley scored his try four minutes after the final hooter.
Waratahs(10) 15
Sharks (10) 23
Waratahs - Tries: Jake Gordon, Bernard Foley. Conversion: Foley. Penalty: Foley.
Sharks: Tries: Daniel du Preez, Andre Esterhuizen. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2). Penalties: Bosch (3)...