Vodacom Cup
Sharks XV remain unbeaten
2009-03-13 19:52
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Durban - The Sharks XV maintained their unbroken record in this year’s Vodacom Cup as they triumphed 18-13 (halftime 13-13) over the SWD Eagles in Durban on Friday evening.
The Sharks and the Eagles entered the match as the only two unbeaten sides in the Southern Section of the competition and it was the Sharks who retained their place at the top of the table although in truth in was a poor match with both teams guilty of poor handling and poor decision making.
The Sharks opened the scoring in the ninth minute of the match after a midfield break by flyhalf Len Oliver saw centre Andries Strauss canter over untouched.
Sharks fullback Monty Dumond added the extra two points before Dumond and Eagles flyhalf Ricardo Croy traded penalties to give the Sharks a 10-3 lead.
Croy then closed the gap, in the 17th minute, with a massive 40 metre drop goal.
The Sharks suffered a blow when their captain Strauss was forced to leave the field in the 25th minute and moments later the Eagles took the lead for the first time in the match when flank Danzel Manuel burrowed his way over in the corner after an Eagles lineout five metres from the Sharks line with Croy adding the conversion.
In the 28th minute Dumond levelled the scores at 13 apiece with his second penalty before the match settled into a midfield struggle as the teams went to the break with the score unchanged.
The second half began much like the first had ended as both teams battled for ascendancy and it was the Sharks who broke the stranglehold, in the 57th minute, when right wing Chris Jordaan put in a clever cross field kick that was picked up by left wing Lwazi Mvovo who outstripped the cover defence to score in the corner.
The Sharks then enjoyed a period of sustained pressure and could have sewn the match up if it was not for two knock-ons inches from the Eagles tryline.
In the end the home side managed to hang on for an unconvincing win.
Scorers:
Sharks XV 18 - Tries: Andries Strauss, Lwazi Mvovo. Conversion: Monty Dumond. Penalties: Monty Dumond (2)
SWD Eagles 13 - Try: Danzel Manuel. Conversion: Ricardo Croy. Penalty: Ricardo Croy. Drop goal: Ricardo Croy
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