Scrappy Sharks sink 'Canes

Durban - The Sharks won their second Super Rugby match on the trot following an unconvincing 27-9 victory over the Hurricanes at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.

AS IT HAPPENED: Sharks v Hurricanes

Despite a dominating start the Sharks allowed the Hurricanes into the match to leave it too close for comfort at the end as it was up to flyhalf Patrick Lambie to clinch the victory.

Lambie contributed 17 of his points through his placekicking with five penalty goals and a conversion.

The home side had a myriad of chances in the first half as they took control of the set pieces, with their scrum in particularly putting the pressure on the tourists.

The Sharks got an early foothold on the match when Lambie succeeded with his first penalty conversion of the game.

Shortly after the restart the Sharks had their first real opportunity of adding a five-pointer to the score when they won a scrum penalty which resulted in a Ryan Kankowski quick tap.

The ball eventually ended in the hands of fullback SP Marais, who knocked the ball on as he went over the line with two Hurricanes players applying pressure.

The hosts camped out in the Hurricanes' 22 for close to 10 minutes in which they again fumbled two opportunities to put the pressure into points.

They eventually found the breakthrough in the 19th minute when flanker Willem Alberts scored from a driving maul that started from a lineout 10 metres from the line. Lambie added the two points to extend his side's lead to 10 points.

The Sharks continued to dominate for the rest of the half as they enjoyed majority possession and territory.

However, the coastal side could not capitalize on the advantage and with six minutes left in the clock the Hurricanes got onto the score sheet courtesy of a Beauden Barrett penalty goal before Marty Banks added another three shortly before the break (10-6).

Lambie succeeded with a penalty conversion three minutes after the break as the game briefly turned into a battle of the boot.

Barrett returned their deficit to four points in the 52nd minute before Lambie replied with a penalty goal of his own six minutes later.

The Sharks finally found passage through the Hurricanes' defensive line when wing Lwazi Mvovo intercepted the ball on the halfway line for a close to 40 metre sprint to the line, with Lambie converting (21-9).

This took the wind out of the 'Canes' sails before Lambie sealed the match in earnest with two consecutive penalty conversions at the death for a flattering 27-9 victory.

Scorers:

Sharks

Tries: Willem Alberts, Lwazi Mvovo

Conversion: Pat Lambie

Penalties: Lambie (5)

Hurricanes

Penalties: Beauden Barrett (2), Marty Banks

Sharks

15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Frans Steyn, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis (captain), 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Stephan Lewies, 20. Jean Deysel, 21. Charl McLeod, 22. Heimar Williams, 23. S’bura Sithole

Hurricanes

15 Marty Banks, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Hadleigh Parks, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks

Substitutes: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 John Schwalger, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Adam Hill, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Alapati Leiua, 23 James Marshall