DAVID SHAPSHAK, Durban | Saturday 7.00pm.
THE Chiefs scored five tries to three to beat a spirited Sharks 44-31 and condemn them to their fifth successive home Super 12 defeat at Absa Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
The Chiefs — who are third from the bottom of the log , only one place up from the Sharks — led 27-10 at half-time.
Chiefs flyhalf Glen Jackson had a good night, converting all six tries and adding three penalties for 19 points. His opposite number, Gaffie du Toit, who had a woeful game at pivot, kicked two conversions and four penalties while Springbok winger Deon Kayser snatched two tries as did the man he marked, Roger Randle.
The Sharks struck first when fullback Joe Gillingham scored in the sixth minute.
But, in an all too familiar pattern, after starting strong, they let things slide, committing far too many basic mistakes and finding themselves on the back foot.
Bruce Reihana scored and Jackson converted, adding another two penalties and then another two conversions, when first Roger Randle, then Todd Miller finished off good runs that moved through the hands.
Du Toit could only add another penalty as the Chiefs had a 17 point half time lead.
But Kayser scored within 30 seconds from the Chiefs kick-off, catching a lucky bounce of the ball, which Chad Alcock chipped ahead, to score in the corner.
However, Randle conjured up his second try just two minutes later, running around Sharks captain Mark Andrews on the wing, to dot down again under the posts. Jackson converted the fourth try which handed the Chiefs a bonus point and opened a 19 point lead.
But the Sharks held on and scored 21 points in 20 minutes. Du Toit kicked three penalties and converted Kayser’s second try – another chip ahead, this time gathered in by Stefan Terblanche -which drew the lead back to three points.
When Chiefs number eight Isitolo Maka stormed over for the Chiefs fifth try, capitalising on numerous Sharks errors, Jackson converted to stretch the lead back to 10 points.
Jackson added another penalty and the Chiefs held off a late charge to win.