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Thumping victory takes the Waratahs up to second

New South Wales Waratahs surged into second place and unhinged the playoff hopes of the Coastal Sharks with a thumping 25-10 victory over the South Africans in their Super 14 rugby showdown yesterday.

The Waratahs unleashed their best form of the season, knocking the Durban Sharks out of their stride in a bonus-point four-try win for their fifth straight victory.

The Sydney team tackled with venom and the Sharks crumbled in the face of the onslaught after being shaded 3-0 at halftime.

The Waratahs, who have not lost since coach Ewen McKenzie was not re-appointed for next season four matches ago, had the game in their keeping with a 25-3 buffer into the final minutes before the Sharks got a consolation try through winger Odwa Ndungane.

No. 8 Wycliffe Palu scored a double and monstered the Sharks with some thunderous hits, including one memorable wincing blow on Venter’s back.

Fullback Sam Norton-Knight opened the try scoring eight minutes after halftime, scoring out wide off a long Kurtley Beale pass after the Waratah forwards stormed the Sharks’ try-line.

Palu powered through a feeble Stefan Terblanche tackle to take Ndungane over with him for his first try in the 55th minute and center Tom Carter scored off a Beale chip kick.

Palu thundered over for his second try in the 65th minute after skipper Phil Waugh darted up the blindside of a maul for the bonus point fourth try.

The Sharks, who had only a prodigious 55m penalty goal from Francois Steyn to show for their efforts, finally scored a try through winger Ndungane with two minutes left after a break by Ryan Kankowski.

It gets no easier for the battered Sharks, who now have to back up for their final Australasian tour game against the Canterbury Crusaders.
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