Sharks beat Highlanders to stay near top
The Sharks beat the Highlanders 23-15 on Saturday to consolidate a top-four spot in the Super 14.
The teams scored two first-half tries each at King's Park, with the Sharks leading 17-15 at the break.
The hosts added two second-half penalties following a dominating display by their forwards to clinch an eighth win in 11 matches.
The Sharks have 35 points, four behind the frontrunning Hurricanes, while the Highlanders are now well and truly out of contention with only 23 with two rounds remaining.
Steven Sykes and Jacques Botes scored for the Sharks, while Jason Rutledge and Jimmy Cowan crossed the line for Highlanders.
Sharks scrum-half Rory Kockott made it 3-0 with a penalty but the Highlanders hit back with a try to Rutledge, a replacement hooker on as a blood substitute for David Hall.
Sykes scored soon after and the Sharks then put pressure on a scrum close to the Highlanders' line. Otago flyhalf Mathew Berquist fumbled a pass as he attempted to clear, and Botes pounced on the loose ball to score.
Cowan rounded off the best period of attack from the visitors right on half-time for an unconverted try.
© 2024 AAP
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