SHARKS END ERROR-RIDDEN STORMERS’ UNBEATEN HOME RUN

THE Stormers’ unbeaten run and flawless home track record in the United Rugby Championship came to a grinding halt on Saturday, as the Sharks stunned them with a bonus-point 30-19 win innie Kaap.

The Sharks took the error-ridden hosts apart, racking up a 14-5 lead in the opening 12 minutes through a good driving maul in which Jason Jenkins crashed over and their second try was created by a pinpoint kick to the corner to Jaco Williams.

Damian Willemse scored the hosts’ first try after being awarded a penalty at the seven-minute mark, and he added his second from a quick tap and feed a little under 20 minutes later, shortly after Jordan Hendrikse kicked a penalty, leaving the Stormers trailing by 17-12 at the break.

Repeated infringements by the Stormers shortly after the break culminated in a team warning from the referee, and Salmaan Moerat was just two minutes on the field as a replacement when he became a victim of his span’s earlier ill-discipline.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first stanza, with a big standout point being the scrums, where the Sharks had the upper hand, and with the home team still being a man down, Phepsi Buthelezi crossed the chalk for their third try.

A combination of pressure from the visitors and penalties at times denied the Stormers from threatening the visitors’ lead, and this allowed Hendrikse to slot his second penalty to go 25-12 up with 13 minutes left on the clock.

A yellow card to Vernon Montongo in the 70th minute damaged the Stormers’ hopes of a victory, and this paved the way for Andre Esterhuizen to score the Sharks’ bonus-point try in the dying minutes.

The Stormers’ only solace was a penalty try in the 77th minute for the collapse of a driving maul, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from leaving empty handed and with their unbeaten run in tatters.