Emirates Western Force

Sharks (SA)

The Sharks leapfrog the Brumbies to claim fourth spot on the Tooheys New Super 14 ladder with an dazzling 41-25 bonus point win over the Emirates Western Force in Durban on Saturday morning.

The Sharks needed to beat the Force by more than 10 points and accumulate a bonus point for four or more tries and managed the feat, courtesy of the 16-point win over the Force grabbing the bonus point for scoring five tries in the match to move into fourth place on the Super 14 table on 38 points, equal with the Brumbies but ahead on points differential.

The Sharks started the game against the Western Force in emphatic fashion with a brilliant backline try to winger Odwa Ndungane in the third minute of play. Percy Montgomery converted for a 7-0 lead.

Montgomery and Force fullback Cameron Shepherd traded penalties to take the score to 10-3 before Ndungane scored his second try in the 17th minute when the Sharks spread the ball wide following a penetrating run deep into Force territory by flanker Johann Muller. Montgomery converted from the sideline for a 17-3 lead.

Sharks flanker Jaques Botes scored his team's third try in the 23rd minute as a shell-shocked Western Force outfit struggled with the dazzling pace of winger Brent Russell who raced into a gap inside his own 22 and found Botes in support to score under the posts.

The Force didn't give up though and a Scott Fava break created space for winger Digby Ioane to touch down in the corner to make the scores 27-8 at halftime.

The Force narrowed the gap to 12 points when Shepherd converted a Scott Fava try from a rolling maul on the Sharks line in the 58th minute.

The Sharks hit back just two minutes later in identical fashion when loose forward Warren Britz placed the ball down from a rolling maul on the Force line. It was the Sharks' fourth try, securing their vital bonus point.

Replacement fullback JP Pietersen scored a fantastic kick and chase try with 15 minutes to go to propel the home side further ahead. Montgomery converted to make it 41-15.

The Force went on all out attack and scored two tries to classy fullback Shepherd in the space of five minutes to make the score 41-25 and give the home side a nervous last few minutes as they neared the crucial 10-point winning margin.

But the Sharks held on to all but secure their semi-final berth.

Sharks 41

Tries: Ndungane 2, Botes, Britz, Pietersen

Conversions: Montgomery 5

Penalties:  Montgomery 2

Force 25

Tries: Shepherd 2, Ioane, Fava

Conversions: Shepherd 1

Penalties: Shepherd 1