VIDEO: Sharks stay in the hunt
The teams scored three tries each, but the Sharks won 28-024, courtesy of the boot of flyhalf Robert du Preez – who scored one of his team's tries, while adding 13 points with the boot (two conversions and three tries).
The match was deadlocked at 10-10 at half-time, with the New Zealand outfit taking longer to settle after having had to replace their All Black quartet of Damian McKenzie, Brodie Retallick, Anton Lienert-Brown and Nathan Harris for national camp duties.
Sharks flyhalf Robert du Preez slotted the opening points of the match via a penalty in the fifth minute, before scoring a converted try four minutes later – following some fine work by the home team forwards.
However, Chiefs found their rhythm as the match progressed with Canadian lock Tyler Ardron crossing the Sharks tryline from a line-out five metres out. Marty McKenzie, who took over the No.10 jersey from his brother Damian McKenzie, added the conversion.
He level the scores four minutes before the break with a penalty.
As was the case at the start of the first period, the Sharks came out after the interval in a determined mood and the speedy Lwazi Mvovo charged through to get two hands on the ball to score a five-pointer in the 41st minute.
The visitors took advantage of some sloppy passing by the Sharks, with Chiefs captain and centre Charlie Ngatai intercepting the ball and going over to score. McKenzie added the conversion to put the New Zealanders ahead for the first time in the match.
The lead didn't last too long, with Du Preez slotting home a penalty for the hosts three minutes later. The Durban-based franchise then extended the lead in the 57th minute from a scrum, where scrumhalf Cameron Wright produced a class dummy to nip over the tryline for another five points, with Du Preez adding the conversion.
This opened a 25-17 lead for the hosts.
There was a further three points for Du Preez and his team in the 67th minute via a penalty, after Chiefs centre Jonathan Faauli was penalised for a high tackle on the Sharks flyhalf.
The visitors did manage to secure a single bonus point in the loss, when they scored their third try on the stroke of the final whistle, with Solomon Alaimalo darting towards the corner to score, after Sharks flank Jacques Vermeulen had lost the ball on the attack. McKenzie slotted the conversion.
Man of the match: You can always look at the Du Preez brothers – Robert, Daniel and Jean-Luc. However, it was the brutality of the forwards that won this and our award goes to the Sharks front row of Thomas du Toit, Armand van der Merwe and Tendai Mtawarira – who displayed the sublime skills you would come to expect from backline players.
The scorers:
For the Sharks:
Tries: R du Preez, Mvovo, Wright
Cons: R du Preez 2
Pens: R du Preez 3
Chiefs:
Tries: Ardron, Ngatai, Alaimalo
Cons: McKenzie 3
Pen: McKenzie
* Picture courtesy of Wayne Seagreen
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Makazole Mapimpi.
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Charlie Ngatai (captain), 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Liam Messam, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Tyler Ardron, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 Liam Polwart, 1 Karl Tu'inukuafe'.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Luteru Laulala, 23 Toni Pulu.
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Archie Sehlako (South Africa)
TMO: Willie Vos (South Africa)
