Sharks grab SA bragging rights with Du Toit’s try
BURLY prop Thomas du Toit crashed over for a late try as the Sharks claimed a crucial 24-17 victory over the Stormers in a South African derby at King’s Park on Saturday.
The match was full of errors from both sides, but sprung to life in the second half as the Sharks kept their playoff hopes alive and inflicted a sixth defeat of the season on the ailing Stormers.
Brilliant centre Lukhanyo Am and flanker Jean-Luc du Preez also crossed the tryline for the home team, who move to 18 points in the South African conference, 12 behind runaway leaders the Lions, with both sides having played nine matches.
The Stormers scored their tries through wing Raymond Rhule and hooker Ramone Samuels, and were always in the game as they led 7-3 at halftime.
“We were a lot more clinical with the ball in hand and held onto it when we had to,” Sharks captain Ruan Botha said.
“We have a bye now, so we can have some time off and come back fresh to face the Highlanders.” The Bulls beat the Melbourne Rebels 28-10 to record their third successive Super Rugby bonus-point win at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Bulls have been brilliant since returning from their tour of Australasia; recording victories against the Stormers, Sharks and now the Rebels by outscoring the opposition by three tries or more.
The Bulls outplayed the Rebels in the first half in Pretoria, and had they taken their chances would have scored double the amount of tries they managed to dot down in the first 40 minutes.
The Bulls put a lot of pressure on the Rebels with ball in hand, with forwards and backs running great angles and handling well. But they weren’t as accurate as they wanted to be and left quite a few tries out on the field.
The Bulls, though, did open the scoring in the sixth minute after lovely interplay between forwards and backs led to hooker Adriaan Strauss scoring his fifth try of the season.
The Rebels hit back with a penalty in the 20th minute through Jack Debreczeni following an infringement at the ruck by the Bulls. But the home team extended their lead two minutes later when outside centre Jesse Kriel went over to score.
The Bulls scored their third try on the stroke of halftime. Their positive attitude has served them well this season, and after opting for a scrum they were rewarded with the five points when Divan Rossouw finished off a good team try.
The Rebels came out firing in the second half, and were much more direct in attack. They were rewarded for their effort shortly after the break when scrumhalf Jonathan Ruru went over to score.
The quality of the second half wasn’t as great as the first, as both teams made a succession of errors.
But the Bulls managed to score one more try through substitute scrumhalf Andre Warner to claim a bonus-point win.
The Queensland Reds have prolonged Australian rugby’s horror run against New Zealand opposition, falling 36-12 at Suncorp Stadium to the Chiefs.
The Hamilton-based outfit were far too slick as they led 24-0 at halftime.
But the Reds, who lost skipper James Slipper through injury in the first half, rallied to save face in the second.
Samu Kerevi scored two tries before a late Samisoni Taukei’aho five-pointer sealed a crucial Chiefs bonus point.
It was the 35th consecutive loss by an Australian Super Rugby club to a New Zealand side.