Super Rugby: Ten-try Sharks maul Rebels in record win
The Sharks bounced back from defeat last week in the best possible fashion by thrashing the Rebels 64-7 in Durban.
Last Updated: 23/03/13 5:39pm
In stark contrast to their below-par performance against the Brumbies, the Sharks lacked no intensity at Kings Park and had the four-try bonus point wrapped up by half time.
Six more tries for the Sharks in the second half saw the hosts cruise to their biggest ever Super Rugby win.
The home side held a 7-0 lead midway through the first half after Louis Ludik went over in the corner in the seventh minute at the end of a wonderful build-up and fly-half Patrick Lambie converted.
While Lambie struggled in the wind, missing three penalties and two conversions in the first half, the Sharks showed their dominance with three more tries - two from rolling mauls- through Marcell Coetzee, Jacques Botes and captain Keegan Daniel.
Lambie was successful with only two of his seven kicks at goal in the opening period, but the Sharks took a 24-point lead into the interval.
Complete control
The hosts took complete control in the second stanza, with Kyle Cooper, Cobus Reinach, Tendai Mtawarira, Ryan Kankowski and Ludik storming over the tryline within 15 minutes of the break as they drew well clear of the visitors.
Centre Meyer Bosman, who took over the kicking duties, was flawless and slotted over all five conversions as the Sharks put the result beyond doubt.
Riaan Viljoen added another five points shortly before the hour mark, and while the Rebels thought they had scored some consolation points soon after, when captain Gareth Delve went over, replacement Frans Steyn managed to hold the ball up.
Scott Higginbotham eventually put some points on the board for the tourists with 12 minutes left, and full-back James O'Connor converted, to save some face for the Australian side.
