After two disappointing home games Sharks coach Kevin Putt read the riot act to his men this week.
And it paid dividends to such an extent that the KwaZulu-Natal side scored four tries for a vital bonus point as they beat old rivals Western Province 29-18 in a pulsating Absa Currie Cup rugby match on Saturday of intense excitement and high drama from first whistle to last.
A torrid second-half defensive pattern shut out Western Province after the Cape side had led 18-15 after the first 40 minutes.
The match produced six tries in all and at least four of them will remain etched in memory.
Two of the four came from breakaways on their own line — first by Province fullback Earl Rose who made acres of ground before feeding an unmarked Egon Seconds on the wing and the other by wing Henno Mentz in an equally inspiring try from nowhere.
The second-half tries to the Sharks were equally thrilling and satisfying for the home crowd of 22 000 as Trevor Halstead and Adrian Jacobs wormed their way through tight defences for the very best rewards.
The forwards hit each other relentlessly with Province dominating the tight phases as they tried to set up attacking opportunities from the fringes of the scrum.
It was here that the Sharks defence earned their pay with a huge effort that denied Province a third try.
It epitomised a match that never dropped in intensity for the whole 80 minutes as the ever-dangerous Province side were held fast.
The Sharks scored four tries through centre Trevor Halstead (two), wing Henno Mentz and centre Adrian Jacobs as Province got two from lock Ross Skeate and wing Egon Seconds.
Flyhalf Conrad Barnard slotted three conversions and a penalty for the Sharks while his Western Province opposite number Pieter Benade got two penalties and a conversion but also missed a couple of kicks at vital times.
Province skipper Pieter Rossouw, so often a thorn in the side of Sharks teams down the years, was brought into early action with a timely interception as the KwaZulu-Natal back division looked like getting an early breakthrough with a double overlap on the right.
Exchanges were fast and furious as the Province players were hustled into uncharacteristic errors by a highly motivated Sharks outfit who forced a Barnard penalty to lead at 8-5 after earlier tries cancelled each other out. It was eight-all soon afterwards — this time via the boot of Benade.
After reaching the break at 18-15 to Province, both sides had early second-half chances through first-half scorers Seconds and Mentz on the break. The Sharks were still ready to attack at every advantage and were rewarded by a second converted Trevor Halstead try eight minutes into the second period.
Western Province replied immediately with a surging counterattack that all but brought them a five-pointer as a penalty attempt by Benade was also wide of the mark while both sides made the usual tactical changes.
Province were twice held up on the line as the Sharks lived dangerously, particularly against an audaciously taken tap penalty by Benade.
Province hero Seconds was sin-binned for an off-the-ball tackle as the Sharks streaked for the Province line and the game continued to be played at a furious pace.
And it was the Sharks who had the final say through Jacobs, restored to centre for this game after two outings on the wing. He waved his way through a half a dozen tackles by exhausted defenders to score a bonus-point-earning try that was converted by Barnard. — Sapa
Scorers:
Western Province: Tries Ross Skeate, Egon Seconds. Conversions: Pieter Benade (1). Penalties: Pieter Benade (2)
Sharks: Tries: Trevor Halstead (2), Henno Mentz. Adrian Jacobs. Conversions: Conrad Barnard (3). Penalties: Conrad Barnard (2)