Sharks, Crusaders reach last four
Source: Agencies |
July 22, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
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SCRUMHALF Charl McLeod scored a 60-meter intercept try three minutes into the second half as the Sharks beat the defending Super 15 champions, the Queensland Reds, 30-17 in Brisbane yesterday in a first-round playoff match, the sixth win in seven matches for the South African side over the Reds.
The win moved the Durban-based Sharks, who led 20-10 at halftime, into the semifinals next Saturday against another South African side, the Cape Town-based Stormers, who had a first-round bye.
The other semifinal will feature two New Zealand sides - the Waikato Chiefs, who also had a first-round bye, against seven-time champions, the Canterbury Crusaders, who beat the Pretoria-based Bulls 28-13 earlier yesterday in Christchurch.
The final will be played on August 4 at the home of the highest-ranked semifinal winner.
The Reds, who were listless most of the night despite a vocal home crowd, weren't helped in the 20th minute when flyhalf Ben Lucas, who replaced the suspended Quade Cooper, suffered a left ankle injury and had to leave the field. Three minutes later, the Sharks scored their second try to take a 17-0 lead.
Cooper received a one-match suspension for his high tackle on Berrick Barnes in the Reds' win over the New South Wales Waratahs last Saturday in the final round of the regular season.
The Wallaby flyhalf missed most of the season after knee surgery following the Rugby World Cup last October, but Queensland had won all six matches since he returned to the starting lineup.
Earlier, All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter outpointed his Springboks opposite Morne Steyn as the Crusaders reached the Super rugby semifinals for the 14th time in 17 years.
Carter kicked 20 points, including a rare right-footed dropped goal, and provided the final pass in a first-half try to winger Zac Guildford as the Crusaders continued a long run of home success against the Bulls.
Steyn managed only a single penalty in an error-ridden performance by the Bulls who have not won in Christchurch since 1996.
The Crusaders and Bulls, who have shared 10 of 16 Super rugby titles decided to date, have met five times in playoff matches with the home team winning on each occasion-the Bulls three times and Crusaders twice.
The win moved the Durban-based Sharks, who led 20-10 at halftime, into the semifinals next Saturday against another South African side, the Cape Town-based Stormers, who had a first-round bye.
The other semifinal will feature two New Zealand sides - the Waikato Chiefs, who also had a first-round bye, against seven-time champions, the Canterbury Crusaders, who beat the Pretoria-based Bulls 28-13 earlier yesterday in Christchurch.
The final will be played on August 4 at the home of the highest-ranked semifinal winner.
The Reds, who were listless most of the night despite a vocal home crowd, weren't helped in the 20th minute when flyhalf Ben Lucas, who replaced the suspended Quade Cooper, suffered a left ankle injury and had to leave the field. Three minutes later, the Sharks scored their second try to take a 17-0 lead.
Cooper received a one-match suspension for his high tackle on Berrick Barnes in the Reds' win over the New South Wales Waratahs last Saturday in the final round of the regular season.
The Wallaby flyhalf missed most of the season after knee surgery following the Rugby World Cup last October, but Queensland had won all six matches since he returned to the starting lineup.
Earlier, All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter outpointed his Springboks opposite Morne Steyn as the Crusaders reached the Super rugby semifinals for the 14th time in 17 years.
Carter kicked 20 points, including a rare right-footed dropped goal, and provided the final pass in a first-half try to winger Zac Guildford as the Crusaders continued a long run of home success against the Bulls.
Steyn managed only a single penalty in an error-ridden performance by the Bulls who have not won in Christchurch since 1996.
The Crusaders and Bulls, who have shared 10 of 16 Super rugby titles decided to date, have met five times in playoff matches with the home team winning on each occasion-the Bulls three times and Crusaders twice.
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