Sharks edge out Stormers in Durban

It was humid and slippery at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday evening and it showed on the score board as The Sharks beat the DHL Stormers by 12-6 in a typically tough South African derby.

Both sides showed superb defence in a match where there weren’t a lot of opportunities to cross the try line. But it has to be said that the tricky conditions also lead to a number of unforced errors by both teams.

In the end, Pat Lambie’s boot was the winner in this war of attrition, with The Sharks’ flyhalf kicking four from five to score all of his team’s points. Joe Pietersen slotted two penalty goals for the visitors.

Those penalty goals conceded within kicking range by the DHL Stormers – The Sharks had a total of six attempts at goal, with Frans Steyn also missing a difficult kick from more than 60 metres out – were the difference in the end. The Capetonians’ discipline let them down at crucial stages of the match, something no team can afford in a tight match such as this one.

It was especially tough at scrum time, with both teams conceding a number of penalties in this facet of the game, while The Sharks’ loose forwards combined well to create the necessary momentum when necessary, or stopping the DHL Stormers when they build up some steam.

The Sharks recorded their second win of the season, while the DHL Stormers have now lost both their first two matches – admittedly tough away fixtures in Pretoria and Durban. To make matters worse for the two-time South African Conference winners, they host the defending champion Chiefs at DHL Newlands next week.

Scorers:

The Sharks – Penalty goals: Pat Lambie (4).

DHL Stormers – Penalty goals: Joe Pietersen (2).