Sharks return to winning ways

22 May 2015 01:17

Two tries from Stefan Ungerer helped the Sharks end a six-game Super Rugby losing streak with a 21-14 victory against the Reds in Brisbane on Friday.

The scrum-half's brace and 11 points from the boot of Francois Steyn ensured the South African side earned their first win since March 28 and piled more pressure on the Reds, who have now lost three of their last four games.

The Brisbane-based side did, however, secure a losing bonus point thanks to converted tries from Chris Kuridrani and Samu Kerevi but could not prevent the Sharks from picking up their first victory on tour this season.

Steyn kicked a sixth-minute penalty as the Sharks earned reward for their early dominance at the Suncorp Stadium before Ungerer sold Kuridrani a dummy to crash over in the corner in the 16th minute, with Steyn converting for a 10-0 lead.

Kuridrani atoned for his defensive lapse by dotting down in the corner on 24 minutes, with James O'Connor adding the extras to reduce the deficit to three points, but a couple of Steyn penalties saw the Sharks go into half-time with a 16-7 lead.

The Reds started the second half a lot better than they had the first and a converted Samu Kerevi try on 51 minutes saw the Sharks' lead reduced to 16-14.

The South Africans were then dealt a blow when Steyn was forced to leave the field with a pectoral muscle injury but it mattered little as another Reds defensive gaffe allowed them to seal their first win in almost two months.

O'Connor attempted a clearance kick from his own in-goal area but succeeded only in kicking straight at Ungerer, who gathered to score probably the easiest try of his career.

Source: PA