DAVID SHAPSHAK, Durban | Saturday 5.00pm.
THE Stormers dramatically came from behind to put themselves into contention for the Super 12 semi-finals by beating the Sharks 32-28 in a thrilling match characterised by ill-discipline at Absa Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
The win and bonus point gave the Stormers 31 points and a brief stay at fourth on the log, but the Cats’ seven try, 50 point drubbing of the Chiefs secured the Ellis Park side the semi-final in Canberra next Saturday against the Brumbies.
This is the sixth successive home defeat for the Sharks, who lead 19-8 at half time and end the Super 12 last on the log.
But the local derby in Durban was filled with ill-discipline, unnecessary rucking of the man and punching. During the first half especially, it denigrated into a petulant display of the regionalism and regional confrontation that perennially plagues the country’s rugby.
Referee Tappe Henning at one point reprimanded Sharks captain Mark Andrews for punching his counterpart Corne Krige, although no players were sin-binned for many yellow carded offences.
The Sharks took control of the first half, inspired by flyhalf Gaffie du Toit, , who has had an indifferent season, but on the day kicked six penalties, a conversion and a drop goal for 23 points.
Du Toit, the man-of-the-match, made the crucial break that sent Stefan Terblanche over for the first try. He converted, added a penalty, then dropped a 52 metre goal from inside his own half. He added two further penalties, the first from the same distance.
Stormers fullback Percy Montgomery scored the first of his two tries in injury time after one of centre Robbie Fleck superb breaks. Van Straaten missed the conversion, as well as two earlier penalties.
After the break, Du Toit slotted a penalty, but the Stormers moved up a gear.
Montgomery scored again, after Pieter Rossouw made the break. The lanky winger was then involved twice in a movement that began in their own 22 and ended with Selborne Boome scoring in the corner. Van Straaten converted both to level the scores at 22-all.
Du Toit, who has had a poor run of form so far, took many bad decisions including kicking away possession that led to Boome’s try and missing two more drop goal kick attempts. But he kicked a further two penalties.
But Rossouw burst over after another movement beginning in the Stormers 22, that he was integrally involved. Van Straaten converted, then slotted a penalty to put it beyond doubt.