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A brilliant defensive effort and two break-out tries have helped the Sharks to a 22-10 victory over the Emirates Western Force in front of 19,076 fans at Subiaco Oval in Perth tonight.
The home side, wearing pink jerseys to support the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA (BCFWA), worked tirelessly but could not cross the Sharks’ line until Scott Staniforth took a Matt Giteau inside pass 22 metres to score in the 73rd minute.
The first half was full of expansive play, but only a Giteau penalty goal and a Francois Steyn drop goal troubled the scoreboard attendant in the first 40 minutes.
Despite having prop Deon Carstens sin binned, the Sharks counter attacked with great effect in the first twenty minutes of the second half, with wingers JP Pietersen and Odwa Ndungane benefiting from turnovers by the Force to score long distance tries.
Man of the Match, Sharks halfback Rory Kockott, added a third try to take the lead out to 22-3. Staniforth’s try completed the scoring.
David Pocock, Ryan Cross, Matt Hodgson and Giteau were in the thick of the action for the home side, while Stefan Terblanche, Keegan Daniel and Kockott were the best for the visitors.
The Emirates Western Force will have the bye during week seven of the Investec Super 14 before hosting the Reds on Friday 3 April at Subiaco Oval.
10th Min: Penalty to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Matt Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 3-0.
30th Min: Drop Goal to the Sharks kicked by Francois Steyn. 3-all.
34th Min. Yellow Card to the Sharks’ Deon Carstens.
HALF TIME: Emirates Western Force 3 Sharks 3
43rd Min: Try to the Sharks scored by JP Pietersen. Not converted. Sharks lead 8-3.
57th Min: Try to the Sharks scored by Odwa Ndungane. Converted by Rory Kockott. Sharks lead 15-3.
66th Min: Try to the Sharks scored by Kockott. Converted by Kockott. Sharks lead 22-3.
67th Min: Emirates Western Force – Tai McIsaac, Ben Castle, Tamaiti Horua and Drew Mitchell replaced by Luke Holmes, AJ Whalley, Richard Stanford and Haig Sare.
69th Min: Emirates Western Force – James O’Connor replaced by Josh Tatupu.
71st Min: Emirates Western Force – Josh Valentine replaced by Chris O’Young.
73rd Min: Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Scott Staniforth. Converted by Giteau. Sharks lead 22-10.
FULL TIME: Emirates Western Force 10 Sharks 22
Emirates Western Force 10 (Staniforth try; Giteau cons, pen)
Sharks 22 (Pietersen, Ndungane, Kockott tries; Kockott 2 cons, Steyn 1 dg)