Champs Suffer First Defeat
Sharks speedster Lwazi Mvovo's two tries earned him the Man of the Match accolade against the Blue Bulls.
The hosts fully deserved the result which also saw them achieve maximum points from this fixture for scoring five tries. The defending champions though managed to snatch a log point for losing the game within seven points of the Sharks.
Man of the match Lwazi Mvovo and flanker Keegan Daniel both added two tries each while hooker Craig Burden scored the Durban side’s fifth try. Patrick Lambie converted three tries.
Lambie, who represented the SA Under-20s at fullback during last month’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina, and playing at centre for his provincial team, also added one penalty.
The Blue Bulls who were missing several of their international stars who are currently doing duty for the Springboks in the 2010 Tri-Nations, managed to break the Sharks’ defensive systems on a few occasions and were rewarded for their efforts with three five-pointers.
No 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, prop Dean Greyling and former Baby Boks winger Gerhard van den Heever added their names to the try-scoring sheet for the defending champions. Jacques-Louis Potgieter kicked two conversions and three penalties.
In Cape Town, Western Province kept the Lions scoreless during their 32-0 victory over their Johannesburg opponents at Newlands on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts dominated this game in almost every facet of play and had the game virtually wrapped up at half time after they managed to boast a 19-0 lead at the break.
WP flyhalf Willem de Waal racked up 17 points with the boot after kicking five penalties and also converted one of his side’s three tries which was scored by flanker Pieter Louw. Fullback Conrad Jantjes and reserve flanker Pieter Myburgh added the hosts’ other tries in this match.
The Lions though denied the Cape side a valuable bonus for scoring four tries thanks to their tight defense at crucial periods in the match when WP launched attacking plays.
Free State Cheetahs prop Coenie Oosthuizen scored a hat trick of tries as the hosts secured their first home victory in the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division on Friday night following their 33-26 win over Griquas in Bloemfontein.
The hosts scored five tries while their opponents from Kimberley, who defeated the Sharks last Saturday, managed to cross the try line on two occasions.
Griquas though managed to secure a bonus for losing within seven points when flyhalf Naas Olivier kicked a penalty in the final act of the game played in Bloemfontein.
Former Springbok Sevens star Robert Ebersohn and Springbok winger Jongi Nokwe were the other players to score tries for the Free State Cheetahs. Flyhalf Louis Strydom added the other points by kicking four conversions.
Springbok winger Bjorn Basson and scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius were the try-scorers for Griquas. Olivier converted both tries and kicked two penalties before his final three-pointer of the game which saw the visitors gain a valuable bonus point. Fullback Riaan Viljoen also added one penalty.
Former Boland Kavaliers flyhalf Elgar Watts, now with the Pumas, ran in a hat trick of tries as his side edged the Leopards 37-32 in Witbank on Saturday afternoon.
The newly promoted side to the Currie Cup Premier Division achieved their first five-point result of the competition after they ran in five tries against their opponents.
While Watts starred by scoring three five-pointers, he also kicked three conversions and two penalties to end the game with a personal points haul of 27. The Pumas winger duo of Shaun Venter and Allistair Kettledas were the other try scorers for the hosts.
The Leopards though managed to achieve two log points from this fixture – one for scoring five tries and the other point – for losing within seven points of the Pumas.
Winger Deon Scholtz scored a brace of tries while fellow winger Dumisani Matyeshana, scrumhalf Michael Bondesio and centre Jovan Bowles added the other five-pointers for the visitors. Flyhalf Clayton Durand kicked two conversions and one penalty.
Currie Cup Premier Division Week Two results:
Sharks 34 – Tries: Keegan Daniel (2), Lwazi Mvovo (2), Craig Burden; Conversions: Patrick Lambie (3). Penalty: Lambie. Blue Bulls 28 – Tries: Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Dean Greyling, Gerhard van den Heever; Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (2); Penalties: Potgieter (3).
Western Province 32 – Tries: Pieter Louw, Conrad Jantjes, Pieter Myburgh; Conversion: Willem de Waal; Penalties: De Waal (5). Lions 0
Free State 33 – Tries: Coenie Oosthuizen (3), Robert Ebersohn, Jongi Nokwe; Conversions: Louis Strydom (4). Griquas 26 – Tries: Bjorn Basson, Sarel Pretorius; Conversions: Naas Olivier (2); Penalties: Olivier (3), Riaan Viljoen.
Pumas 37 - Tries: Elgar Watts (3), Shaun Venter, Allistair Kettledas; Conversions: Watts (3); Penalties: Watts (2). Leopards 32 – Tries: Deon Scholtz (2), Dumisani Matyeshana, Michael Bondesio, Jovan Bowles; Conversions: Clayton Durand (2); Penalty: Durand.
Sharks Sign Ross Skeate
The Sharks have signed lock Ross Skeate from France on a two year contract, effective 1 July, 2010 to 30 June 2012. The former Stormers and Toulon player will be a great asset to The Sharks.
After leaving Western Province and the Stormers two years ago, he joined Toulon who were on the brink of relegation. This season, they became European Cup finalists as well as qualifying for the Heineken Cup. He is acknowledged as a leader who assisted in the successful turnabout process for the club.
“My desire to play rugby in a team with a blend of international players, learn a new language and improve my forward play took me to France and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Toulon which I see as a success,” he explains.
“However, despite the team’s fortunes, I have a desire to return to South Africa and have chosen The Sharks as the right culture and team environment to continue my career. I believe my rugby philosophy and that of The Sharks is very similar and hence my decision to play in Durban. I look forward to it with eager anticipation.”
Ross boasts an impressive playing pedigree that includes age group representativity (SA Under 19 and Under 21), Western Province and Stormers (90 caps including captaincy), Emerging Springboks, UK Barbarians, Southern Kings vs British & Irish Lions and 45 caps for Toulon in the French Top 14 as well as eight caps in the European Cup.
“With the loss of one of our most senior players, Johann Muller, we have decided to add an experienced player in Ross Skeate,” explains coach John Plumtree. “He is considered a senior player at Toulon, as he was at Western Province, and that is something that stands him in good stead here at The Sharks because of his leadership qualities and experience. He’s a fantastic character.
“He is a mobile, versatile player, an intelligent person who brings all round lock-specific as well as forward athleticism to the game. We look forward to having him here and welcome him with open arms.”
With thanks to Sharksrugby.co.za
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