Michalak scores vital try as Sharks reach final

France fly-half Frederic Michalak scored a vital try for KwaZulu-Natal Sharks in a 29-14 Currie Cup semi-final triumph over Golden Lions Saturday.

Michalak struck 20 minutes into the first half at Absa Stadium in the Indian Ocean city to restore the 13-point advantage of the home team just 60 seconds after the visitors had clawed back into contention.

Slick handling created space near the touchline and Springbok wing Odwa Ndungane passed to superbly positioned Michalak, who dived over for the try. Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar converted to give the Sharks a 20-7 advantage.

The Lions never recovered from the blow and trailed by 22 points before Bok centre Jaque Fourie dotted down after the final move of the match to give the scoreline a flattering appearance.

Michalak, who turns 26 next Friday, quits the Sharks after the final against the Blue Bulls or title holders Free State Cheetahs here on October 25. He will return to former club Toulouse on a three-year contract.

He spent one injury-hit season in South Africa, playing for the Durban-based franchise in the Super 14 southern hemisphere tournament and the South African interprovincial championship.

Michalak and his team-mates recovered swiftly from Pienaar fluffing an early penalty to dominate possession against a Lions team prone to unforced errors on a hot spring afternoon.

Pienaar kicked two penalties and converted a superb solo try by number eight Ryan Kankowski, who snatched a JP Pietersen pass inside the Sharks half and displayed the pace of a wing in his dash to the line.

The Lions, well beaten at home by the Sharks two weeks ago in the group phase, hit back with centre Doppies la Grange applying the finishing touch to a superb passing movement and Rose converted.

However, hopes of a revival by the Johannesburg-based 2007 runners-up, were dashed as Michalak struck and Pienaar and centre Francois Steyn added a penalty each before half-time to leave the Sharks 26-7 ahead.

After pressing hard without reward in the second half the Lions faded and numerous replacements by coach Eugene Eloff had little impact on a match that lost its bite with the outcome inevitable long before full-time.

Another Pienaar penalty midway through the half was the sole score until the ball rebounded off the crossbar into the hands of Fourie, who dotted down for a try replacement scrum-half Chris Jonck converted.