Sharks claim derby with solo try as Force win again
The Coastal Sharks won a fierce South African derby to stay top of rugby’s Super 15 as Australia’s resurgent Western Force won their fifth straight match this weekend.
A superb individual try from fullback Lwazi Mvovo secured the Sharks a 25-12 victory over the Golden Lions to hold on to a two-point lead in the southern hemisphere provincial series.
Jake White’s Sharks needed the win to stay clear of Australia’s ACT Brumbies and back-to-back champions Waikato Chiefs. The Brumbies hung on to defeat the Queensland Reds 23-20 in Brisbane after leading 20-3 at one stage to lead the Australian conference by three points from Wester n Force. The Chiefs scrambled to an unconvincing 22-16 win over the Melbourne Rebels at Waikato Stadium for their first victory in four games.
Western Force made it five successive victories for the first time in their history with a rousing 28-16 win over the NSW Waratahs in Perth. The Otago Highlanders recovered from a shaky start to beat South Africa’s Northern Bulls 27-20 in Dunedin and climbed to sixth overall and second in the New Zealand conference behind the Chiefs. Seven-time Super Rugby champions Canterbury Crusaders continued a winning run with four last-quarter tries to down the Central Cheetahs 52-31 in Bloemfontein.
The Auckland Blues , Wellington Hurricanes and Western Stormers all had byes this weekend. In Johannesburg, Mvovo scored a superb chipand-chase clinching try for the Sharks 13 minutes from time.
Centre S’bura Sithole forced a turnover near the touchline and Mvovo darted down the flank, caught his chip and zipped over to land a decisive blow against the Lions. Francois Steyn converted and then added a penalty to get the Sharks home in a rugged South African derby at Ellis Park. Meanwhile, another news from Melbourne adds that the Australian Rugby Union were right to withdraw Israel Folau from New South Wales Waratahs’ Super Rugby clash against Western Force due to concerns about the player’s safety, Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has said.
The ARU controversially overruled the Waratahs’ selec-
THE AUCKLAND BLUES, WELLINGTON HURRICANES AND WESTERN STORMERS ALL HAD BYES THIS WEEKEND. IN JOHANNESBURG, MVOVO SCORED A SUPERB CHIP-AND-CHASE CLINCHING TRY FOR THE SHARKS 13 MINUTES FROM TIME.
tion of the 15-cap Wallaby for Saturday’s match in Perth, saying the marquee fullback’s throat injury had not healed enough to let him play.
The 25-year-old and his coach Michael Cheika were left fuming as the Waratahs slumped to a 28-16 loss at NIB stadium.
“Everyone wants him to play, but in the end you’ve got to consider the player’s welfare,” McKenzie told host broadcaster Fox Sports late on Saturday.