Sharks make light work of Griquas

Triple: Daniel crossed for three tries

The Sharks ensured they finished top of the Currie Cup table on Saturday, thanks to a resounding 66-12 victory over the Griquas on Saturday.

Despite having already secured a home semi-final the Sharks clearly wanted to guarantee top spot in the table, naming a full strength side that included no less than twelve internationals.

It took them all of three minutes to score the game's opening try. Two previous raids ended in penalties, but it was third time lucky as Ryan Kankowski made a fine outside break and he had the vision to send Keegan Daniel in for his sixth try of the season.

JP Pietersen scored his fifth try of the season after just nine minutes, Odwa Ndungane's chip ahead sitting up nicely for the wing to stretch the lead further. Ruan Pienaar again added the extras and already one got the feeling the game was over as a contest.

With Kankowski full of running the Sharks never let up, and the third try came three minutes later - this time Francois Steyn benefiting from Pietersen's chip ahead. The bonus point score came just ten minutes later after Daniel was driven over for his second try of the game.

The best try of the half was undoubtedly Pietersen's second try. Steyn threw a long pass out to Steven Sykes, who showed superb hands to send Pietersen scorching through under the posts.

Despite a chance to regroup at half-time the Griquas failed to stem the flow of points in the second half. Albert van der Berg scored four minutes into the half after a fortuitous bounce allowed him the easiest of tries.

Springbok captain John Smit scored the seventh try on his first start for the Sharks in almost three years. The ball came free at a ruck and Smit saw a gap on the blindside and dived over to score. It was another forward over moments later as Jacques Botes scooped up a bobbling ball to saunter in from the half-way line.

Sarel Pretorius got a consolation score for the Griquas in what was a carbon copy of Botes' try moments before. The Sharks clearly had their minds on bigger fish, notably next week's semi-final, as they allowed Griquas in for a second try, this time from Naas Olivier.

Bradley Barritt, who came on early in the second half for Frederic Michalak, was sent to the sin-bin for repeated infringements. That didn't stop the home side from adding a ninth try, courtesy of Ndungane.

Daniel then completed his hat-trick after Ndungane made a telling break down the left flank, finding the try-scoring flanker on his inside to finish the job.

The Scorers:

For Sharks:

Tries: Daniel 3, Pietersen 2, Steyn, Van der Berg, Smit, Botes, Ndungane

Cons: Pienaar 6, Kockott 2

For Griquas:

Tries: Pretorius, Olivier

Con: Barnard

Yellow card: Barritt (Sharks)

The Teams:

Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Johan Muller, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Bradley Barritt, 22 Waylon Murray.

Griquas: 15 Conrad Barnard, 14 Egon Seconds, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Riaan Viljoen, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Gareth Krause (c), 7 Stephan Gerber, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Steph Roberts.

Replacements: 16 Dean Hopp, 17 Ruaan du Preez, 18 Brendon Snyman, 19 Tyrone Holmes, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Wouter Watermeyer, 22 Gavin Passens.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan

Touch judges: Jaco Peyper, Reuben Rossouw

Television match official: Michael Cupido