Sharks take Ellis Park thriller

2008-03-15 18:59

Ellis Park - The Sharks kept their unbeaten Super 14 record Saturday with a 16-8 win over the Lions in a match spoiled by a heavy downpour at Ellis Park Stadium.

Both teams showing a willingness to run with the ball, but struggled after the rain started midway through the first half.

The Sharks jumped out to a 16-3 lead at halftime, which proved sufficient as the Lions couldn't create many scoring opportunities in the wet conditions until a try by replacement lock forward Franco van der Merwe with only a minute left in the match.

The win lifted the Sharks to 21 points in second place behind Canterbury Crusaders of New Zealand.

With the Lions dominating possession in the first half, the Sharks' only try came from a sweeping counterattack. Lions flyhalf Jaco van Schalkwyk kicked away the ball on attack, and Francois Steyn hit back down the left.

A run linked him with four other Sharks players, and flanker Keegan Daniel was brought down just short of the line. Springbok prop BJ Botha dived over from the ensuing ruck, and scrumhalf Rory Kockott converted.

Kockott kicked three penalties while Van Schalkwyk had one.

Scorers:

Lions (3) 8: Try by Franco van der Merwe (78 min). Jaco van Schalkwyk kicked a penalty.

Sharks (16) 16: Try by BJ Botha (16 min). Rory Kockott kicked a conversion and three penalties.

- SuperSport