Brock James
2006

Live Scoring: 36-31 at full time
Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 08:27
Source: www.sharksrugby.co.za

Sharks Invitational vs Western Force Gold
Live from Woodburn Stadium, Pietermaritzburg - Wednesday 7 June, 2006 - Kick-off 6.30pm (SA time)

Second Half

Elapsed Time: 40 mins

The Force have the last word as they take advantage of a poor chip and wing Brett Stapleton scythes through to score in the final final movement of the game. The Brock James conversion takes the game to 36-31 in the Sharks favour.

Elapsed Time: 79 mins

The Sharks have done well defensively with the Force pushing hard for a final try. However, after gaining a penalty and getting to the 22, they concede a penalty. The Force do well to get to the half way line, only for a pass to go behind one of their players and the Sharks counter quickly, and although Craig Burden gets over for a try, the ref calls them back for an earlier infringement.

Elapsed Time: 77 mins

The Sharks pull ahead through some great work when an up and under looks to have been knocked on by Sandile Nxumalo, but Craig Burden wisely plays to the whistle with the ref waving play on, and he scores a vital try. Rudi Dames adds the two points for the Sharks lead to grow back to 12, they now lead 36-24.

Elapsed Time: 74 mins

The relief is short-lived as the Sharks are blown up on the halfway line and are caught unawares as scrumhalf Chris O'Young takes a quick tap and makes a break, running to the tryline without a hand being laid on him. James' conversion narrows the score to 29-24.

Elapsed Time: 72 mins

Finally the Sharks can breathe a sign of relief as the Force are penalised in the Sharks 22 for holding on. They had got within metres of the Sharks tryline only to be repelled successfully.

Elapsed Time: 70 mins

There has been much too-ing and fro-ing as both teams find the opposition strong on both attack and defence. The Force make a great break with a four on one situation, but Okkie Vermeulen saves the day with a strong tackle from behind, forcing the knock-on with the tryline beckoning. The Sharks are out of jail for the time being, but the Force are eager to attack and now have a lineout on the Sharks 22.

Elapsed Time: 60 mins

Peden is over for the Force's second try (and his second) as the Force have been hammering away at the Sharks' defence which was equal to the task at ruck and maul time. However, once the ball went to the backs, the lively centre did well to get through the gaps. James kicked the simplest of conversions and the score is now 29-17 to the Sharks.

Elapsed Time: 55 mins

There has been a long break in play as the medics were attending to one of the Force players who had to be stretchered off the field. The game is now back in the Sharks' half with a Force knock-on resulting in a Sharks scrum just outside their 22.

Elapsed Time: 50 mins

Not two minutes later and the Sharks score again as Dean Hall is again in the thick of things, making a good break as the ball traverses the width of the field. Sandile Nxumalo rounds off the movement as the Force run out of defenders. Goosen's conversion from the touchline is an "in-off" and the gap is now 19, with the Sharks leading 29 points to 10.

Elapsed Time: 48 mins

Out of nothing, fullback Greg Goosen creates a moment of magic when he regains his up and under that was launched in his own half, feeds Dean Hall who makes a great break and the ball goes down the line for Okkie Vermeulen to score. The conversion from Goosen is good and the Sharks lead 22-10.

Elapsed Time: 41 mins

Andrew Binikos gets the second half underway with a kick deep into the Force's 22. They run strongly and get out of their danger zone, and after claiming a penalty, get the ball into the Sharks 22, but the home side do well to get the ball to the halfway line.

First Half

Elapsed Time: 40 mins

As half time looms, the Force win their scrum on the Sharks 22, run the ball wide and a grubber is put through for centre Alexander Peden to run onto and dot down for the easiest of tries. Brock James converts and the halftime whistle goes with the Sharks leading 15-10.

Elapsed Time: 38 mins

The Force look good on attack but once again poor hands let them down as they get the ball upto the halfway line. The Sharks will have the put in at the scrum, which goes down and the Force are penalised. The Sharks claim their lineout and run the ball well, but there is a turnover and the Force mount a counter. However Braam Immelman, who is having a blinder, saves the day with a mark in the 22.

Elapsed Time: 35 mins

It's trytime again for the Sharks, and again it is Howard Noble, who this time hacks a wayward Force pass ahead from the halfway line, and regains the ball well to dot down under the posts. Goosen makes no mistake and the Sharks now have a 12 point lead, 15-3.

Elapsed Time: 31 mins

The Force are looking dangerous as they mount a wave of attacking rugby, but poor handling is letting them down. This time they get to the 22 before a knock-on turns possession over. The Sharks mount a great attack from the scrum, taking the ball to 30m from the Force's tryline, only for a wayward pass to turn possession over again. There is no shortage of action in this match.

Elapsed Time: 28 mins

The Force launch a strong attack and are within the Sharks 22 when a forward pass puts paid to their intentions. From the ensuing scrum, Braam Immelman takes the ball up strongly, handing off defenders as he makes all of 20m in a good run. The Sharks then break and get into the opposition half before mauling the ball up and getting it out to the backs. A knock-on under pressure ends the movement only metres from the line.

Elapsed Time: 27 mins

It's TRYTIME as the Sharks win their scrum, run the ball wide and Howard Noble gets over in the corner. The conversion attempt shaves the upright but is unsuccessful. 8-3 to the Sharks.

Elapsed Time: 21 mins

The Force run a strong move, but a wayward pass forces the visitors to retreat. The Sharks force the lineout, which they lose. The Force get the scrum, but in running the line, again lose the ball and a hack ahead sees a chase which the Force win. However, the Sharks will have the scrum put in 10m from the opposition tryline.

Elapsed Time: 16 mins

The Sharks have done well to maul the ball up, keeping it in teh forwards and gaining a good 20m, taking them to the edge of the tryline. With the defence holding firm, the Sharks spin it wide and flyhalf Andrew Binikos chips ahead, but the Force regather and get the ball 30m out, before a Sharks knock-on forces the long movement to breakdown.

Elapsed Time: 12 mins

The Sharks have been pressing and have managed to get into the Force's 22. Nico Breedt setting up a good move. The Force are blown up and Greg Goosen levels the scores from right in front. 3-3.

Elapsed Time: 9 mins

The Sharks force a turnover on the halfway line, and a Force player intercepts a pass, but is blown up for off-sides. The kick is to touch and the Sharks win the lineout on the 22. They run the ball up and the ref blows for a scrum at the breakdown. After resetting it once, he blows against the Sharks and the visitors are out of jail.

Elapsed Time: 4 mins

The Force win the lineout and run the line, taking the ball to the opposite side of the field where the ball dies at a maul. Ref was playing advantage and Brock James has the easiest kick in front of the posts, making no mistake. The Force lead 3-0.

Elapsed Time: 1 mins

Brock James of the Force gets the game underway, kicks a short one and one of his players knocks it on. The ref plays advantage and both teams attack and counter. The end result is a Force penalty which they kick to the Sharks 22.

Sharks Invitational:
15. Greg Goosen
14. Howard Noble
13. Okkie Vermeulen
12. Grant Rees
11. Dean Hall
10. Andrew Binikos
9. Sandile Nxumalo
8. Braam Immelman
7. Nico Breedt (c)
6. Solly Tyibilika
5. Steven Sykes
4. Werner Cronje
3. JC Strauss
2. Skipper Badenhorst
1. Pompies Wessels

Replacements:
Jody Jenneker, Robbie Harris, Ryan Kankowski, Conrad Stoltz, Corne van Mollendorff, Claude Dry, Rudi Dames, Frans Steyn, Mzwandile Stick, Carl Bezuidenhout, Craig Burden.

Western Force Gold:
15. Gavin DeBartolo
14. Dan Bailey
13. Alexander Peden
12. Haig Sare
11. Brett Stapleton
10. Brock James
9. Chris O’Young
8. Richard Brown
7. David Pocock
6. Luke Doherty (C)
5. Matt Windle
4. Tyler Edwards
3. David Fitter
2. Luke Holmes
1. David Te Moana

Replacements:
Ryan Tyrrell, Keiran Longbottom, Adam Whalley, Elliot Kuhlmann-Hall, Josh Fuimanoa, Will Brock, Vitori Buataua, Matt Shaw, Ben Ward, Ryan Lenegan.