Super Rugby

Sharks hold off Blues

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Akker van der Merwe

The Sharks kept the Blues scoreless in the first half as they claimed a 26-7 win at Kings Park on Saturday. CRAIG LEWIS reports.

This is a result that was built on a dominant performance from the home side in the opening half, and while they will be pleased with the victory, the efforts in the second stanza did leave a lot to be desired.

Yet, despite the fact that the Blues made a fist of things in the second half, the Sharks displayed enough determination to hold off their New Zealand opponents and ultimately claim a second win from as many games.

The Sharks started this clash with real intent. Within the opening 25 minutes, they turned down no less than four shots at goal.

It proved to be a good move when Akker van der Merwe went over to score from the back of a driving lineout in the 16th minute, with Aphelele Fassi having also finished off a superb try earlier on.

That second try sent the Sharks into a commanding 12-point lead, but they did suffer a blow 10 minutes before half-time when Bok star S’bu Nkosi had to be stretchered from the field after taking a heavy knock.

Nevertheless, the Sharks continued to control proceedings, with the foundation laid through another lineout maul before Rob du Preez stepped his way through the defence to dot down under the posts.

That try served to help the hosts into a commanding 19-0 lead, having made 249m to 108, 55 caries to 33, five clean breaks to one, and enjoyed 56% of possession and 68% of territory in that opening stanza.

The Blues had been completely outplayed until that point, and matters went from bad to worse when they had a try ruled out due to a previous piece of foul play just before the hour mark.

However, the visitors would not be denied at their next attempt, with debutant Tanielu Tele’a powering through the defence of Curwin Bosch to score and reduce the deficit to 12 points.

The nerves would have started to jangle for the Sharks when Ruan Botha was next sent to the sin bin for another cynical foul, but the hosts sealed the result when Curwin Bosch intercepted a loose pass and darted 80m to score just before full-time.

Sharks – Tries: Aphelele Fassi, Akker van der Merwe, Rob du Preez, Curwin Bosch. Conversions: Du Preez (3).
Blues – Try: Tanielu Tele’a. Conversion: Otere Black.

Sharks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (c), 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Phendulani Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Curwin Bosch.

Blues – 15 Melani Nanai, 14 Caleb Clarke, 13 TJ Faiane, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Otere Black, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Subs: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.

Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix