Super 15 leaders Sharks back on winning trail

Super 15 leaders Coastal Sharks got back on the winning trail on Saturday by grinding out a 32-10 victory over New South Wales Waratahs in Durban.After four consecutive victories since the southern hemisphere inter-provincial championship season started, Sharks lost away to fellow-South Africans Northern Bulls last weekend.But there was never a hint that they would slip up again, building a 12-3 half-time lead before scoring two second-half tries.A late try by fly half Bernard Foley was meagre consolation for the Australians, who had defeated the Sharks in 11 of 15 previous meetings.Fly half Fred Zeilinga, starting in place of injured Patrick Lambie, gave a flawless goal-kicking display to finish with 19 points from five penalties and two conversions.Both tries came from forwards -- lock Willem Alberts and flanker Keegan Daniel -- and a long-range penalty from centre Francois Steyn completed Sharks' total.Leading Waratahs scorer Foley scored all Waratahs' points from an early penalty and a late try he converted.Victory lifted three-time runners-up Sharks to 23 points, six more than the Australian ACT Brumbies and defending champions New Zealanders Waikato Chiefs.Waratahs retained fifth place, seven points behind Sharks, despite the disappointing start to a tour that includes a match against lowly Western Stormers in Cape Town.The visitors sorely missed full back Israel Folau, sidelined by a bruised throat after scoring eight tries in four games this season.A further blow to the Waratahs was the 48th-minute sin-binning of flank Dave Dennis, who pushed rival skipper Bismarck du Plessis off the ball.It was a niggly match that kept New Zealand referee Mike Fraser busy and the Waratahs were punished by Zeilinga for constant ill-discipline.The Sydney side were first to score with Foley kicking a fifth-minute penalty after 2007 Rugby World Cup winner Steyn was caught offside. But the remaining 12 points of the opening half came from Sharks' penalties with Zeilinga potting three before Steyn succeeded with a shot from five metres inside his half.Sharks got their first try two minutes after Dennis was yellow-carded with Alberts getting the credit as a pile of players fell on the ball following a driving maul.Zeilinga converted and kicked a penalty for a 22-3 advantage that was stretched when Daniel took a quick tap penalty and dived over for a try.Waratahs gave a glimpse of their attacking ability with replacement Patrick McCutcheon sending Foley over before another Zeilinga penalty closed the scoring.Sharks have a bye next weekend. Source: AFP