It was the final game of the weekend, and lived up to its billing as the big one on the South African schedule in this round. The Hurricanes took an early lead before the Sharks first fought back and then took a strong grip on the game, maybe a bit more so on the scoreboard than on the field of play, where the Hurricanes always looked dangerous and were thwarted by outstanding defence.
The Sharks scored three tries on a day which show-cased the talent they have in reserve, with 21-year-old Luzuko Vulindlu capping a fine first run-on performance with a try and a deserved man of the match award.
Vulindlu, who matriculated at DHS after being lured their on a bursary from Stanger High School, and thus a true home-grown product, got into the game early, making his presence felt both on attack and defence. He has been on the field at Super 14 level before as a replacement, but this was the first time he wore the No11 jersey as he stood in for the injured winger JP Pietersen.
As they have often done this season, the Sharks started slowly and took a long time to get into the game. The Hurricanes dominated the early battle for possession, and also enjoyed the territorial advantage in the first half hour. A penalty from Piri Weepu put them 3-0 ahead in the first five minutes before the Sharks responded with one from Rory Kockott to draw the teams level after eight minutes.
There would have been some very nervous people among the Sharks supporters for the next quarter of an hour to 20 minutes, as the Hurricanes poured all over the Sharks and only desperate defence kept them out. They did score a try to go 10-3 ahead after 15 minutes when flanker Faifili Levave went right through an ineffectual tackle attempt.
There were several first line misses in the first quarter, but the Sharks managed to apply a salve to the problem later in the half and in the second half, and by half-time the Sharks were getting their hands on the ball at last and coming back into the game. Two more penalties drew them to 10-9, and that was the score when the teams took their break.
It was immediately after half-time that the Sharks took control of the match, scoring two tries within minutes of the restart to propel them into a 23-10 lead. The first one was Vulindlu's try, which was the product of some smart thinking as the Sharks took a quick throw-in inside Hurricanes territory, and Vulindlu showed the Hurricanes cover defence a clean pair of heels.
The next try might prove a significant one in the career of Frans Steyn. The Springbok has struggled since moving to flyhalf to cover for the injury to Ruan Pienaar, and he battled before half-time. However, after chasing down a high ball, which the Hurricanes were unable to field effectively, for the Sharks' second try, Steyn became a lot more composed.
He often gets jeered, even by his home fans in Durban, when he tries drop-goals, but the good one he struck with about 10 minutes remaining of this match had a say in the tempo of the game. The Hurricanes had begun a spirited fightback, throwing everything into attack, and had just draw themselves back to within six points of the Sharks with a try to wing Zac Guildford.
It was a try that was the product of the best creative work of the match, and the warning signs were starting to flicker for the tiring Sharks, who have tended to start slowly and then end slowly in recent weeks.
But Steyn's kick ensured that the Sharks' defending in the last 10 minutes could be done with the comfort of knowing they were more than a score ahead. The Hurricanes ended up frustrating themselves on their failed attacking efforts, and it was left to another relative newcomer, replacement back Chris Jordaan, to widen the gap further when he kicked through another poor Hurricanes attempt to deal with a well placed high ball with just two minutes remaining.
The win leaves the Sharks three points ahead of the second placed Waratahs with two more games, against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein next Saturday and Crusaders in Durban the week after, to go before their bye weekend. After that they expect Jean Deysel and Ruan Pienaar back, so it is looking up for the Sharks.
Tries - Luzuko Vulindlu, Francois Steyn, Chris Jordaan. Conversions - Rory Kockott (3). Penalties - Kockott (3). Dropped Goal - Steyn.
Tries - Faifili Levave, Zac Guildford. Conversions - Piri Weepu (2). Penalty - Weepu
