Sharks thrive in Perth

The Sharks maintained their perfect start to the Super Rugby season and Western Force are still searching for their first win after the visitors' 39-12 sucess at nib Stadium in Perth.

Western Force were not helped by having to play most of the game with just 14 men after replacement back Rory Sidey was sent off early in the first half.

Sidey, who came on for Mitch Inman after the outside centre trudged off with an arm injury, was shown a red card in the 18th minute after lifting Odwa Ndungane in a crude tackle that knocked the winger unconscious.

Ndungane was taken off on a stretcher and after play restarted, the Durban-based Sharks scored a try within a minute and then added three more to seal their third straight win.

Ndungane, Test hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Steven Sykes, flanker Willem Alberts and fly-half Patrick Lambie all scored tries for the Sharks.

Lambie was also successful on four of five conversion attempts and added two penalties, while James O'Connor kicked four penalties for the outgunned Force.

O'Connor slotted over early to give the Perth side the lead, but the Sharks soon countered when Ndungane was able to poke the loose ball to his advantage and score a try which Lambie converted.

Nightmare

And the Force's nightmare start only got worse when Sidey, who'd replaced Inman just a few minutes earlier, was sent off.

Du Plessis added another try for the Sharks following a rolling maul and Lambie slotted the conversion.

O'Connor cut the deficit to five with two penalty goals but the Currie Cup holders soon responded when Sykes gathered a loose ball and scored a try to take their lead to 19-9 at half-time.

Lambie slotted another penalty soon after the restart before substitute Lwazi Mvovo had two tries disallowed in quick succession before O'Connor scored another penalty goal.

Alberts took advantage of several minutes of pressure to cross the line and secure the Sharks the four-try bonus point before Lambie converted a penalty.

Force winger Nick Cummins was given a yellow card three minutes from time and Lambie soon added the fifth try under the posts.

"We're trying to speed the game up, we've got some very good finishers in our side," Sharks skipper Stefan Terblanche said. "It's a long and arduous road ahead but we're getting there."