Sharks thrash Lions in Durban

Ryan Kankowski: Scored two tries for the Sharks against the Lions

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The Sharks secured themselves a home semi-final in the Currie Cup after an emphatic 53-9 win over the Lions in Durban on Saturday.

The home side dominated proceedings from the outset and ran in seven tries against their hapless opponents.

The Sharks started the match brightly and were dominant during the opening stanza. They had the bulk of the possession and territory and led 14-6 at the break.

During the opening half they were rewarded with two tries by Frederic Michalak and Ryan Kankowski and the Lions only points came through two penalties by Burton Francis.

Kankowski's try came when the visitors had 14 players on the field after Michael Rhodes was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on a Sharks player.

The Sharks did not take their foot off the pedal after the break and bolstered their line-up with the introduction of Springboks Willem Alberts, JP Pietersen and Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis.

Their forwards dominated in the tight exchanges which allowed their backs plenty of front-foot ball to launch attacks.

Alberts showed his class when he shrugged off five Lions defenders, before burrowing his way over the tryline to score his team's third try in the 49th minute.

Shorlty afterwards, Kankowski secured the home semi-final against the Cheetahs, when he scored his second try and their were further touchdowns for the Sharks by Pietersen, Jacques Botes Stefan Terblance.

The Lions, who were already secured of a home semi-final, struggled throughout and coach John Mitchell's decision to rest several of his first choice players showed in this encounter.

They host Western Province in their play-off fixture inJohannesburg next weekend.

The scorers:

For Sharks:
Tries: Kankowski 2, Michalak, Alberts, Pietersen, Botes, Terblanche
Cons: Michalak 6
Pen: Michalak 2

For Lions:
Pens: Francis 3

Yellow cards: Rhodes (Lions - 29th min)

Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (c), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Eugene van Staden.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Willem Alberts, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 JP Pietersen.

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Dylan Des Fountain, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 James Kamana, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (c), 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Michael Rhodes, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Butch James, 22 Michael Killian.

Referee: Jason Jaftha