Sharks leave it late
The Sharks ended a run of three straight defeats with a comprehensive 27-3 victory over the Lions in Durban.
Last Updated: 09/04/11 10:05pm
![McLeod: grabbed a late bonus for the Sharks in Durban](https://uatimg.skysports.com/11/03/660x350/Charl-McLeod-rebels-sharks-2011_2572352.jpg?20110311102740)
The Sharks ended a run of three straight Super Rugby defeats with a comprehensive 27-3 victory over the Lions in Durban.
The hosts had already crossed three times in the opening half by the time Charl McLeod scored after the siren had sounded to claim a bonus point.
Louis Ludik and Willem Alberts scored against their former club with JP Pietersen responsible for the other try in a one-sided first 40 minutes.
The Lions - who had taken a fourth-minute lead through Elton Jantjies' penalty - did battle back after the break, though by then the game was over as a contest.
Struggled
They would have lost by an even bigger margin had fly-half Jacques-Louis Potgieter not struggled with his kicking game for the Sharks.
The number 10 missed a chance to reply immediately after Jantjies' early three points, his penalty attempt striking an upright and staying out.
However, John Plumtrees' side did get on the scoreboard after 15 minutes when full-back Ludik showed excellent pace to dive over in the corner.
Potgieter again missed the kick and it was Meyer Bosman who took over to add the extras after Alberts touched down, following a fine break-out involving Pietersen, Stefan Terblanche and Odwa Ndungane.
Potgieter did have better luck kicking out of hand just before half time when his chip ahead allowed Pietersen to score, though the former couldn't convert.
He finally managed to land one when he slotted over a 56th minute penalty, while at the other end Rory Kockott missed a three-pointer for the Lions.
It appeared the bonus would elude the Sharks until the closing seconds, though, McLeod's tap-and-go seeing him dive over under the posts for a converted try.