OWN CORRESPONDENT, Durban | Sunday 5.15pm.
THE Natal Sharks beat Gary Teichmann’s Newport 52-25 in the former Springbok skipper’s benefit match at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.
With the match effectively sewn up at 40-25 with 10 minutes remaining, Andre Joubert, Henry Honiball, James Small Small, Dick Muir, Kevin Putt and Jeremy Thomson came on in place of current provincial stars like Gaffie du Toit and Clinton van Rensburg.
Small scored the first try, a lucky effort after a defensive error in the goal area.
Andre Joubert scored the second, with a break through the midfield, drawing the defenders to the left touchline.
He then flipped a reverse pass to the speedy Conan Sharman who raced away for the final five-pointer of the match.
The try-fest — Natal’s eight to the Welsh club’s four — produced some good moments for the 40000-strong crowd, but the biggest cheer of the day was for Teichmann himself early in the second half when he got Newport’s third try.
Scorers:
Natal Sharks: Tries: Rodger Smith (3), Gaffie du Toit, Chris Rossouw, Steffan Terblance, James Small, Conan Sharman.
Conversions: Du Toit (5), Henry Honiball.
Newport: Tries: Alix Popham, Jason Foster, Gary Teichmann, Cerl Jones. Conversions: Shane Howarth. Penalties: Howarth.