Cape Town - The Sharks finished their Super Rugby season on a high when they beat a weakened Stormers team in Durban on Saturday.
As it happened: Sharks v Stormers
The Sharks won 34-12 after leading 13-9 at half-time.
The Sharks scored five tries through flyhalf Lionel Cronje, scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, fullback Lwazi Mvovo and wing Odwa Ndungane. Cronje was on target with two conversions and a penalty. Replacement Fred Zeilinga also added a conversion.
The Stormers replied with four Kurt Coleman penalties.
The Sharks picked up a full-house of five points to finish the season in fourth spot in the South African Conference and 11th in the Overall standings.
The Stormers left empty-handed and although they ended the season with the seventh-most log points, due to tournament rules, they topped the South African Conference and finished third in the Overall log.
The Stormers will host the Brumbies at Newlands next Saturday (17:05 kick-off) in the second playoff Qualifier.
Teams:
Sharks
15. Lwazi Mvovo, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. JP Pietersen, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. S’bura Sithole, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Renaldo Bothma, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Marco Wentzel (captain), 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20. Khaya Majola, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Fred Zeilinga, 23. Heimar Williams
Stormers
15 Robert du Preez, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Oli Kebble
Substitutes: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Seabelo Senatla, 23 Kobus van Wyk