/ 7 April 2007

Sharks easily beat Reds

South Africa’s Sharks moved into third place in Super 14 rugby after a nine-try, 59-16 win on Saturday over Queensland, handing the Reds their eighth straight loss.

The Sharks, leading 17-10 at half-time, scored six tries in the second half to blitz the last-place Reds.

”I think this showed the difference between a top side and where we are,” said Queensland captain John Roe, who scored his team’s only try. ”It was very, very disappointing.”

JP Pietersen and AJ Venter scored two tries each for the Sharks, who have 30 points from seven wins and two losses.

”It was anybody’s game at half-time,” said Sharks captain John Smit. ”But we were much more clinical in the second half.”

Two New Zealand teams lead the competition — the Auckland Blues in first place with 36 points and the Canterbury Crusaders, who moved into second with 32 points after a 53-0 win over the Western Force earlier on Saturday. — Sapa-AP