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Perth - The Sharks scored three tries to beat the Force 22-10 in their Super 14 match on Saturday as they ended their overseas tour on a high.
The Durban franchise will return home on Sunday with 13 points collected on tour after three wins and they couldn’t have asked for anything more.
The first half was characterised by extremely hard-fought rugby, with both sides running the ball when the opportunity arose, but were equally guilty of coughing up possession in good field position.
Force flyhalf Matt Giteau opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a penalty before that was nullified by a well-taken Frans Steyn drop-goal about 20 minutes later.
Those three points for either side were to be the only time the scorekeepers would be troubled though, as neither side managed to finish off attacking opportunities.
The Sharks got off to a much better start in the second half as winger JP Pietersen scored a great breakaway try in the 42nd minute.
Went on attack
Scrumhalf Rory Kockott was unsuccessful with the conversion from an acute angle but the five points gave the visitors an advantage.
The Force fought fire with fire though and had most of the possession for the next ten minutes but great defence from the visitors denied them time and time again. Then in the 58th minute, the Sharks forced another turnover and winger Odwa Ndungane found himself in space and darted down the right touchline for their second try.
Moments later, the Sharks went on attack again and after Steyn broke through several tackles to go close, Kockott picked up and went over for another try. When he converted his own touchdown, it was suddenly 22-3 to the visitors.
The hosts hit back a bit later as winger Scott Staniforth went over for their first try, but it was a mere consolation and not nearly enough.
Scorers:
Sharks: Tries: JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane, Rory Kockott Conversions: Rory Kockott (2) Penalties: Drop-goals: Frans Steyn.
Force: Tries: Scott Staniforth Conversions: Matt Giteau Penalties: Matt Giteau.
