Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar slotted a 48m penalty as the fulltime hooter sounded to give the Sharks a 29-26 away victory over the Wellington Hurricanes in their Super 14 match on yesterday.
Wellington flanker Victor Vito had scored a late try, which was converted by Piri Weepu, to tie the scores just three minutes earlier before Hurricanes replacement flyhalf Aaron Cruden was penalized for not releasing the ball when he was tackled.
Pienaar then slotted his fifth penalty, giving him 19 points, to condemn the Hurricanes to a fourth successive loss, all to South African sides, in this year’s Super 14.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“Pretty happy when a boy stands up like that to take the kick. I saw him leaning to the left [watching the flight of the ball] and nearly had a heart attack,” Sharks captain John Smit said in a televised interview.
“It was an exciting game. I suppose they are the ones that take years off you as a player and coach,” he said.
WARATAHS 39, BLUES 32
Lachie Turner dashed 95m for a 71st-minute intercept try, clinching a 39-32 win for the New South Wales Waratahs over the Auckland Blues in Super 14 rugby yesterday.
Flyhalf Daniel Halangahu scored two tries and kicked four conversions and two penalties — six goals from seven attempts — for the Waratahs, who posted their fifth win from seven games.
Forwards Dean Mumm and Tatafu Polota-Nau also scored tries as the Waratahs took a bonus point from a five-try home win, rising to fourth place in the standings.
BULLS 28, FORCE 15
The Bulls remain Super 14 rugby’s only unbeaten side after winning 28-15 against the last-place Western Force, who proved tougher than expected.
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