News

Hernandez gets a winning start

August 07 2009

The Sharks overcame a spirited Leopards resistance to run out 44-15 winners in the Currie Cup on Friday in Rustenburg.

Patience and composure saw The Sharks initially contain a competitive Leopards outfit before staging a strong second half performance that led to the six try to two victory and consign the hosts to their fifth straight defeat, and vitally, earn the bonus point win.

The Sharks had to wait until nearly half an hour's play before they went over for their first try, scrumhalf Charl Mcleod scoring from a quick tap penalty, eluding the defence and getting the try with Hernandez converting. A penalty either side of the try saw the visitors go into the halftime break leading 13-3 with a solitary penalty to Leopards flyhalf Clayton Durand within the first quarter of an hour.

Juan Hernandez gave a good account of himself, playing very well in his first outing. He unfortunately suffered a dead leg early on, played through it but was replaced after halftime.

The Sharks enjoyed the Lions share of territory in the first half, but were sadly unable to capitalise on the opportunities they created.

Guy Cronje came on for Hernandez in the second half and despite the loss of the starting flyhalf, The Sharks got on the board early after a sweeping movement that started as a counter-attack in their own 22, went through five or six pairs of hands and ended with fullback Stefan Terblanche scoring in the corner. The touchline conversion from Cronje hit the post and bounced away, The Sharks taking their lead from 10 points to 15.

The Leopards bounced back with a converted try to wing Jovan Bowles but The Sharks struck again after an exciting break from Lwazi Mvovo which failed to herald immediate results, but led to a penalty and yellow card against hooker Gavin Williamson. The Sharks kicked to touch, won their lineout, and Jacques Botes finished off the move to score his team's third try. Cronje's conversion took the lead back to 15 points with The Sharks well in command.

Five minutes later, Charl McLeod scored his second try and crucially, his team's fourth to register the bonus point in a move involving good work from Chris Jordaan and Ryan Kankowski. Cronje's conversion was successful.

Things turned from bad to worse for the home side as Craig Burden, on for Skipper Badenhorst, scored his team's fifth try, with the conversion The Sharks had built up a sizeable - and by then, with 10 minutes to play - an unassailable lead, the margin now 29 points.

Chris Jordaan scored his team's sixth try in the closing stages of the game, again an effort ending in the corner with the difficult conversion failing as his team took the score to 44-10.

The Leopards managed to score a late consolation try in the corner on the fulltime hooter with the conversion unsuccessful and The Sharks running out worthy 44-15 victors.

The scorers:

For the Leopards:

Tries: Bowles 2

Con: Durand

Pen: Durand

For the Sharks:

Tries: McLeod 2, Terblanche, Botes, Burden, Jordaan

Cons: Hernandez, Cronje 3

Pens: Hernandez 2

Leopards: 15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Jovan Bowles, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Berndt Theissinger, 11 Jan van Zyl, 10 Clayton Durand, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 RW Kember, 7 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 6 André Swanepoel, 5 Edrich Linde, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Divan Kotze.

Replacements: 16 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 17 Philip Lemmer, 18 Rynard Landman, 19 Bennie Adams, 20 Theo van Wyk, 21 Bom Samaai, 22 Danie Dames.

Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (c), 14 Chris Jordaan, 13 Andries Strauss, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Juan Hernandez, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel , 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Patric Cilliers.

Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Ross Cronje,21 Guy Cronje, 22 Waylon Murray.

Referee: Pro Legoete

With thanks to the Sharks