Highlanders tear Sharks to shreds

– The Highlanders routed the Sharks 48-15 yesterday with a dominant seven-try performance that gives their play-off chances a huge boost.

Buoyed by the return of All Black trio Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Aaron Smith, the Highlanders’ slick passing game saw them run away with the game in the second half.

The bonus-point victory took their record to seven wins from 10 matches, consolidating their spot in the top six.

It was the fourth straight defeat for the Sharks.

The Highlanders’ high-tempo

Dunedin

passing game was rewarded with a try after just four minutes when flanker Gareth Evans crossed in the left corner.

The South Africans then attacked up the middle and set up prop Tendai Mtawarira for a try to level the scores at 10-10.

But it was a short-lived reprieve as Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne hit back for the Highlanders with two tries in three minutes to make it 24-10 at the break.

The Sharks came out hard after the restart but were held up over the line twice in the first five minutes before Highlanders’ lock Mark Reddish scored their fourth try.

Reddish snuck up alongside Conrad Hoff mann as he tried to shepherd the ball out of the Sharks’ in-goal area, throwing out a hand and going over.

Aaron Smith followed up with another try two minutes later after a break from Richard Buckman, taking the score to 36-10.

Brendon Edmonds heaped on more pain by scoring their sixth try.

Bismarck du Plessis managed a consolation try but Elliot Dixon made it seven to complete the rout. –