/ 7 March 2009

Sharks nail first bonus point of season

The Sharks picked up their first bonus point of the season with a magnificent 35-31 win over the Blues in Auckland on Saturday morning.

The scoreline might suggest it was a close encounter but the fact of the matter is that the Sharks dominated in most facets of the game.

There wasn’t much in it during the first half, with the Sharks holding a narrow 20-16 lead with tries to JP Pietersen and Jacques Botes.

In the second stanza they showed all their class, as they really began to knock the nail into the Blues’ coffin.

Steven Sykes and John Smit were the two try scorers, both barging over in similar fashion after the Sharks had built up some good pressure.

There are some injury clouds surrounding lock Alistair Hargreaves and prop Jannie du Plessis and the Sharks will be hoping that it’s nothing serious.

The Durban side remain unbeaten and with two wins out of two on tour, they’ll be mighty pleased. — Sapa