A brilliant try midway through the second half completed a stirring comeback by Coastal Sharks and ensured a 20-15 win over the Western Stormers in a thrilling all-South African Super 14 clash on Saturday.
The Durban team won a scrum just a few meters from their line and broke away, with outstanding scrum-half Rory Kockott playing a pivotal role as the sweeping move ended with fullback Stefan Terblanche crossing unopposed. It was an especially pleasing try for the veteran former Springbok as his mistakes had helped the Stormers take a 10-0 halftime lead.
The Stormers suffered a huge blow soon after halftime when captain and center Jean de Villiers was carried off with his neck in a brace. Stormers coach Johan “Rassie” Erasmus said the brace was a precautionary measure and that De Villiers had been released from hospital and could be back training by tomorrow.
PHOTO: AP
Springbok loose forward Schalk Burger, sporting an unfamiliar short back and sides, was given the honor of leading out the Stormers to mark his 50th Super series appearance.
It was the home side who impressed most in the opening half, attacking and defending with passion, while Sharks fly-half Ruan Pienaar missed three penalty attempts of varying difficulty. A poor Terblanche clearance led to a multi-phase Stormers assault that ended with center Gcobani Bobo barging over for a 19th-minute try, converted by fly-half Peter Grant, who added a close-range penalty before halftime.
The loss of inspirational de Villiers unsettled the Stormers and as the Sharks changed their goal kicker, so did their fortunes, with Kockott landing two penalties to close the gap to just four points.
A swift tap penalty set up hooker John Smit for a pushover try confirmed by the TV official and Kockott converted to put the Sharks ahead for the first time on 60 minutes.
Within five minutes, Terblanche touched down under the posts, leaving Kockott with the simple tack of converting.
The Stormers raised their game in the closing stages and Grant went over for a try after evading Pienaar following another tap penalty, but his conversion hit the right post and rebounded into play.
BULLS 33, REDS 20
AFP, PRETORIA
Northern Bulls of South Africa triumphed 33-20 against Queensland Reds of Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to go top of the Super 14 table after the first round.
While the Bulls were on top for much of the encounter, they battled to make the most of all the possession they won in the early stages.
Good defending by the Queenslanders meant the Bulls went into the break having scored just one try. That came late in the first half when Du Preez punished fumbling at the back of the Reds’ scrum feed by snatching the loose ball and trotting over the try line.
The Bulls opened the scoring through fly-half Morne Steyn, who knocked over a penalty before the Reds grabbed the lead via a Ben Lucas penalty and a Berrick Barnes drop goal.
The Bulls extended their lead almost immediately after the restart when Springbok center Olivier crashed over following a strong break through the Reds’ midfield. Another penalty by Steyn five minutes later opened up a 12-point gap, before the Reds hit back through wing Digby Ione, who showed wonderful individual skill to evade the tackles of Zane Kirchner and Akona Ndungane to score his team’s first try, that Quade Cooper converted.
Reds lock Adam Byrens was then yellow-carded and the home team scored their third try through replacement fly-half Burton Francis, that Steyn converted.
The Bulls wrapped up the game with 10 minutes to go with a further penalty by Steyn and a fourth, bonus-point try from Pierre Spies.
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