TheSportsCampus

The Sharks got one over the DHL Stormers on Saturday evening, but were made to work very hard in the final moments of this very tough local Vodacom Super Rugby derby. By winning this encounter 25-20 at Mr Price Kings Park in Durban on Saturday evening, The Sharks not only kept alive their chances of reaching the Qualifiers, but also inflicted only the second defeat of the season on the DHL Stormers.

It was an epic in every sense of the word. The Sharks raced to an impressive 20-6 lead at half time and stretched that to 25-6 soon after the break, but the DHL Stormers never gave up and fought back to 25-20 with two tries by Springbok speedster Gio Aplon.

Before Aplon's heroics though, it looked like one-way traffic in Durban. First French import Fred Michalak scored and then Sharks captain Keegan Daniel crossed – both in an impressive first half by the home team.

Shortly after the break Springbok wing Lwazi Mvovo crossed in the corner for The Sharks' third try. As it looked like the home team was going to put the visitors away, Aplon pounced on a wayward pass to race away for his first try.

Later in the second half, he was put through a gap by DHL Stormers skipper Jean de Villiers and with ? minutes left, it looked like the Capetonians were going to upset the apple cart. It wasn't to be though and The Sharks recorded their fourth win on the trot.

Scorers:

The Sharks – Tries: Fred Michalak, Keegan Daniel, Lwazi Mvovo. Conversions: Pat Lambie (2). Penalty goals: Lambie (2).

DHL Stormers – Tries: Gio Aplon (2). Conversions: Peter Grant (2). Penalty goals: Grant (2).