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Sharks leave it late to clinch victory

Waratahs' Lote Tuqiri, right, with teammate Sam Norton-Knight, left, tackles Sharks' Adrian Jacobs, center, during the Super 14 rugby match at ABSA Stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Butch James scored a late try to clinch a 22-9 Super 14 victory for the Coastal Sharks of South Africa over the New South Wales Waratahs of Australia on Friday.

It was an error-ridden match in Durban that could have swung either way until the only try came just two minutes before the final whistle.

Sharks, who spent much of the second half trying to keep out the more inventive Waratahs, burst away and when a passing movement was halted just short of the tryline, it was quickly recycled for James to dive over.

Percy Montgomery converted to raise his tally to 11 points after kicking three penalties.

Francois Steyn, contributed six points via an early penalty and drop goal.

Wing Peter Hewat landed three penalties for the Australians, but the normally deadly goal kicker missed four kickable shots.

Victory lifted the Durban-based franchise to the top of the standings with eight points, three more than other Friday victors Western Force of Australia and Wellington Hurricanes of New Zealand.

The Hurricanes overcame Waikato Chiefs 39-32 and the Force outclassed the Western Stormers of South Africa 22-3 in Cape Town.

Waratahs were first to strike as Hewat kicked a fourth-minute penalty, but Steyn levelled within two minutes from another penalty before missing a long-range effort ahead of dropping a goal to give the Sharks a 6-3 lead.

The lethargy affecting the players spread to the goal kickers as Hewat (three times) and Montgomery (once) missed penalty attempts before each had one successful shot to leave the Sharks with a three-point half-time advantage.

Montgomery landed a further two penalties and Hewat one.

As the Sharks clung to a 15-9 lead, Waratahs came close several times to crossing the line before James put the match beyond their reach.
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