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By Ken Borland
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, May 19 (Reuters) – Flyhalf
Freddie Michalak posted 19 points as the Sharks beat the
Cheetahs 34-20 in an all-South African Super Rugby match at the
Free State Stadium on Saturday.
The Sharks enjoyed a slight edge in a bruising encounter,
with their direct running taking them over the advantage line,
allowing their backs space to run in four tries and notch a
vital bonus point.
The Sharks laid down an early marker after keeping the ball
from the kickoff for 12 phases and two minutes and 25 seconds,
loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira and hooker Bismarck du Plessis
carrying the ball strongly and providing outside centre JP
Pietersen with the space to dot down.
Michalak converted to give the Sharks an early 7-0 lead, but
their ill-discipline at the ruck and the running of Cheetahs
forwards Philip van der Walt, Adriaan Strauss and George Earle
led to two penalties for flyhalf Riaan Smit.
The Cheetahs backs also have plenty of flair with ball in
hand and outside centre Robert Ebersohn’s marvellous break from
the restart led to hooker Strauss muscling his way over for a
32nd-minute try.
Michalak struck back after the Cheetahs defence allowed
Riaan Viljoen’s booming kick to bounce inside their 22. The 29-
-year-old got a hand to the ball, regathered and scored only his
second Super Rugby try.
Wing Paul Jordaan obstructed the Cheetahs chase at the
restart and conceded a penalty, which Smit kicked to level the
scores at 14-14.
With the halftime hooter having just gone, the Sharks ran a
penalty and wing Lwazi Mvovo crossed over. Michalak converted,
before stretching the Sharks’ lead to 24-14 with a penalty six
minutes into the second half.
Replacement flyhalf Sias Ebersohn kicked a penalty for the
Cheetahs in the 53rd minute, as the Sharks, with Du Plessis in
the sin-bin after a second shoulder charge, had their hands in
the ruck.
The Cheetahs went into the final quarter 20-24 down after
Mtawarira infringed in the scrum and Sias Ebersohn kicked his
second penalty.
The Sharks dominated the closing stages, with Michalak
increasing the lead to 27-20 with a penalty. The bonus point try
came in the 73rd minute when Pietersen stole the ball on the
right wing, Mvovo jinked his way deep into the Cheetahs 22 and
replacement centre Meyer Bosman dived over.
Michalak added the conversion as the Sharks kept themselves
inside the top six and the playoff places.
(Editing by Matt Barker)
