Sharks bite back
The Sharks ran in four second half tries to claim a 40-24 comeback win over the Hurricanes at Kings Park in Durban.
Last Updated: 23/04/11 7:10pm
The Sharks ran in four second half tries to claim a 40-24 comeback win over the Hurricanes at Kings Park in Durban.
After the match was deadlocked at 13-13 at half-time, the home side scored 27 points in the second half to ease to their sixth win of the season and move to the top of the South African conference.
But it was a sixth defeat frm nine matches for the Hurricanes.
Lwazi Mvovo crossed twice after the break along with Meyer Bosman and Ryan Kankowski to avoid an upset that had looked on the cards when the hosts trailed 24-18 after 55 minutes.
Returning fly-half Pat Lambie contributed 15 points from the boot as the Sharks strengthened their grip on second place in the South African conference.
The Hurricanes hopes were undermined by poor discipline with Ma'a Nonu and James Broadhurst were both shown yellow cards.
The visitors had begun strongly with New Zealand full-back Cory Jane scoring the opening try after 12 minutes. Daniel Kirkpatrick converted before adding two more penalties to give his side a 13-3 lead.
The Sharks were level by the break though with John Smit touching down after 27 minutes and youngster Lambie, back from a hand injury that sidelined him for three weeks, converted before adding a penalty.
The Hurricanes scored almost immediately after half-time as good work from Nonu, who took on four defenders before setting up substitute Faifili Levave to score.
Up a gear
Mvovo replied for the South Africans but two Kirkpatrick penalties opened up a six-point lead for the Kiwi side with 25 minutes to play.
They could not hold on, however, as the Sharks stepped up a gear with Bosman and Mvovo ploughing over after 57 and 60 minutes and when Nonu was sent to the sin bin on 69 minutes they added 10 points including Kankowski's score.
"We gave away too many balls in the first half, which is dangerous against a team with a back three as good as the Hurricanes. But we tightened things up in the second half," Sharks captain John Smit said.
Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore added: "We played some good rugby but mistakes let them in. We were short on defence at the rucks and they got the better of us out wide."
