Chiefs v sharks - live updates

[zimeric]

Frenetic start to the game folks.... first sharks driving deep into Chiefs territory then the other way round
several 5m drives but sharks hold off...

Keegan Daniel caught offside - the first full-arm penalty of the game if I remember correctly. It's dead centre of the pitch, too far for Donald? We'll find out, he's going for it...





3 - 0 Chiefs! 14th minute

[zimeric]

kick-off out on the full... sharks look rattled!

[zimeric]

Sharks are looking to put pace on the ball at every opportunity now, Kockott hoofs a free-kick a mile downfield even while players are still picking themselves off the floor from the ruck! He makes good ground as Anesi clears...

[zimeric]

O'Neill pinches the line-out though - the hosts are squeezing the Sharks. Donald puts in a good kick to the corner, and Pietersen dithers for a moment before clearing full into Masaga's face!


Rain is falling again now.

[zimeric]

but the subsequent attack is far from organised. Donald's eventual grubber is followed up by precisely nobody and Terbalnche clears with ease.

[zimeric]

21 minutes in and rain falling steadily now.... could make this a low scoring game...

[zimeric]

Yellow to Cockott!

Lauaki takes a kick, well, good recycling, and out it goes blind to Anesi in space, Kockott holds Messam back, - perhaps the most cynical foul of 2009 so far! Penalty Chiefs, Sharks down to 14, brewing up nicely for the home team!

[zimeric]

28 mins...

Steyn takes a high ball under heavy pressure, cleared by Pienaar, Anesi garryowens, nearly takes it but can only knock it on.

[zimeric]

Ansi and Masaga in a tangle over a high ball and the Sharks get a scrum in the Chiefs half. After their initial opening there's not been too much from the visitors, can they create something here?

[zimeric]

nah ... steyn blown for not releasing...
Aerial pingpong for a while...

Here comes the good ship Bismarck on a surge, good ball for the Sharks, but again a wrong option is taken as steyn goes for a chip and the Chiefs catch and hoof it away.

[zimeric]

In terms of quality, the game is on a steady downhill slope here. as with so many games this season, it has started at a frantic pace but the skill levels are slipping...

given what we saw in Paris a few hours ago under the gobal ELVs... are the free-kicks really working? I don't think so. Not enough shape for a team to get going in.

[zimeric]

I suppose the greasy ball could be a factor too but at this level it shouldnt dictate the play.

[zimeric]

Chip through from Jacobs at a scrum, Pietersen on the chase and this time Anesi has nowhere but touch to go. Sharks line-out, 5m out.

[zimeric]

SUPERB turnover from Lauaki and Messam, and here go the Chiefs on a counter, super stuff! Leonard, Sweeney, Bruce, Sivivatu, Leonard again down the middle! THey've won a penalty - out the ball goes to the left, Sivivatu, tries to find Anesi but the ball is lost in the tackle and the Sharks get the scrum as the advantage was over

[zimeric]

Awful clearance by Pienaar, Masaga stepping back, he beats one, two, three, brilliant run... but again the offload is spiled in the tackle! Terbalnche clears, not too far though.