Sharks hit top gear at last
SWD Eagles(0) 33
sharks(32) 63
At last, normal service has been resumed for the Natal Sharks.
It says something about the Sharks season, though, that this redemption match was not televised (insultingly it was taken off the broadcast schedule because of its lack of importance) and only a handful of travelling wilbury's from the Sharks Supporters Club and the disinterested Eagles faithful witnessed the hitherto dormant Sharks crackle into spectacular life.
They roared along at a point a minute until the 50th minute of the match when they understandably paused for breath, which allowed the beleaguered home side to save face with a late glut of tries.
The purpose with which the Sharks played suggested a team that simply had had enough of their season horribilis. Enough of the defeats, enough of the negativity, enough of the knives that have been out. They not only played with hunger and determination but zest as well.
Many of their scores were breath-taking, with most of the team contributing to sweeping movements that encompassed much of the length of the field.
Perhaps the build-up to the match had been the last straw for the Sharks. The squad had gathered at 2.30pm on Friday afternoon in the hangar of a private charter company at Durban Airport, well in time for a 3pm take-off, but there was no sign of their plane.
A technical problem meant their plane arrived from Johannesburg four hours late. Then there was a delay because of the inclement weather. The team eventually landed just before midnight.
The lateness theme continued in the morning when the SWD union told the Sharks that kick-off would be at 3.30pm, not 3pm as scheduled. No explanation was given, not that it really mattered in the grand scheme of things other than to add to the frustration of the Sharks.
The weather was not playing ball either. Misty rain rolled down from the Outeniqua Mountains that flank the Stadium (this is a misnomer, it is more of a shack). It is one of the more scenic locations in South African sport but when the weather closes in it is also one of the coldest.
But there was nothing sluggish about the way in which the Sharks started this match.
A minute after kick-off, fullback Conrad Barnard flung a 30m pass across the face of his tryline. It found Henno Mentz and he got rid of his frustration at not having seen the ball for about five games by pinning his ears back and dashing off for an 80m try that will forever be remembered by those who witnessed the scorching sprint.
Sadly, the left wing did his hammy in the process and limped off at the other end of the park. Never mind, the ice quite literally was broken.
The Sharks scored nine tries in total, with six of them being scored by the forwards which was fitting because the Sharks pack obliterated their opposition, something we had not seen this season. Lanky lock Albert van den Berg stretched his legs to turn in a memorable performance which earned him a hat-trick of tries. Another who has not had much opportunity this season, Solly Tyibilika, scored twice and No 8 Bertus Mulder who has not played since July, also scored.
The backs were not idle either. Another forgotten man, Ricardo Loubscher (on for Mentz) had a lively game, as did Deon Kayser (when did we last see him?).
Sadly nobody will see Kayser on the rugby field again. This was his final match (it was also his and John Smit's 50th Currie Cup appearances for Natal) and it was apt that the Sharks sparkled in this great warrior's farewell game.
As you would expect in a game of high scoring, flyhalf Brent Russell thrived. The Eagles were no match for him and the most surprising aspect of Russell's game is that he limited himself to just the one try - his seventh in five games.
So the Sharks' season comes to an end with their first - and only - away victory of the season, against the cellar-dwellers. The manner in which the team played with give the players a much-needed shot of confidence. Again, it is pity the game was not televised. The supporters will have to take my word for it - the Sharks were bloody good on Saturday!
Scorers
Sharks: Tries: Albert van den Berg (3), Solly Tyibilika (2), Deon Kayser, Henno Mentz, Brent Russell, Bertus Mulder. Penalties: Conrad Barnard (2). Conversions: Barnard (6)
Eagles: Tries: Isak Saayman, Jaco Gouws, Isak Saayman (2), Eugene Maqwelane. Conversions: Rynard van As (3)