Waratahs go down

Waratahs winger Peter Hewat kicks a goal

A late try by flyhalf Butch James has given the Sharks a hard-fought 22-9 victory over the Waratahs in their Investec Super 14 match played at Absa Stadium, Durban on Saturday morning.

The Waratahs had more attacking options but couldn't convert their plethora of chances, while Peter Hewat had an off night with the boot kicking only three penalties from seven attempts.

Two penalties and a drop goal had given the Sharks a 9-6 lead at half-time and the home side managed to fend off a wave of Waratahs attack in the second half to lead 15-9 before posting the only try of the match in the 77th minute when James dove over for a five-pointer that came against the run of play.

The win puts the Sharks at the top of the Super 14 table while the Waratahs are one from two on their South African road trip.

"We had our chances to win the game, but weren't able to take them," Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh told Foxsports after the game.

"We weren't able to control the ball and were a bit sloppy in most areas. We have eight days now before our next match against the Cheetahs, so we will go back to camp and assess our performance in this match and go from there."

Hewat opened the scoring for the visitors in the third minute after a heavy tackle on Number 8 Wycliff Palu by Francois Steyn. The Waratahs Number 8 then gave away a penalty for a shoulder charge on AJ Venter, which was slotted over by Steyn to level the scores.

After a period of controlled attack by the Sharks that was well defended by the Waratahs, Steyn opted to put over a drop goal to give the home side a 6-3 lead.

Hewat equalised after a high tackle on Phil Waugh in the 37th minute and it looked like the teams would be locked together at the break before a late disciplinary lapse saw Montgomery kick his first penalty of the match to give the home side a 9-6 half-time lead.

After the break, the Waratahs started to win control of the ball in the middle of the park and found plenty of room on the flanks as they launched a string of promising attack on the Sharks try-line.

But dogged defence coupled with the Waratahs inability to complete the crucial last pass or control ball at the critical breakdown saw the Sharks hold on to the lead as Montgomery and Hewat traded penalties to take the score to 15-9 in favour of the home team.

Then, with just three minutes left on the clock, the Sharks sealed the match with a try against the run of play. Replacement back Waylon Murray got away on the right flank but was pulled down just short of the line in the right corner.

The Sharks flung the ball across the face of goal where inside centre Brad Barritt drew two defenders before slipping the ball to James for a clear run to the line. Montgomery converted the try to hand the home side the well-earned 13-point win.

Sharks 22
Tries: Butch James
Conversions: Percy Montgomery
Penalties: Montgomery 3, Francois Steyn
Drop goal: Steyn

Waratahs 9
Penalties: Peter Hewat 3