Super Rugby: Late Joe Pietersen try wins it for Sharks
Last Updated: 18/03/16 7:04pm
A late Joe Pietersen try gave the Sharks a 18-13 victory over South African rivals the Stormers in a Super Rugby thriller at Newlands on Saturday.
Winger JP Pietersen collected near the half-way line, broke through and sent his namesake clear to dot down in the corner and maintain a 100 per cent record after three rounds.
Try-scorer Pietersen failed to convert, and the Sharks survived a late Stormers attack that ended with a knock-on inside the 22 to record a monumental win.
There was a contentious decision six minutes into the second half when New Zealand referee Mike Fraser awarded Sharks a penalty try and sin-binned Stormers flanker Siya Kolisi.
Fraser and South African television match official Marius Jonker believed Kolisi deliberately kicked the ball from the hands of Sharks scrum-half Cobus Reinach as he attempted to score, though Kolisi argued it was unintentional.
The Springbok was shown a yellow card while Joe Pietersen converted to tie the derby at 10 points each.
Sharks, who had been on the back foot for much of the opening half, edged ahead when Pietersen kicked a penalty, only for Stormers fly-half Kurt Coleman to cancel it out with an effort of his own.
However, the tied scoreline lasted only two minutes before the unrelated Pietersens combined to win the game.
Sharks flanker Marcell Coetzee praised both teams after a typically physical South African showdown.
"Matches between us are always close and physical and we did well to come back in the second half after doing a lot of defending in our own half up to half-time," said the flanker.
Stormers dominated first-half possession and territory and were 10-3 leaders at half-time. Coleman - deputising for the injured Robert du Preez - and Pietersen exchanged penalties before winger Leolin Zas scored a superb try for Stormers.
A perfectly weighted kick into the corner by full-back Cheslin Kolbe was kept in play with one hand by Zas before he gathered the ball and dived over, and Coleman converted.
Sharks visit the Bulls in Pretoria next weekend for another South African derby while Stormers enjoy home advantage against the Brumbies
