Sharks XV coach Mike Vowles sees light after Stormers XXIII setback

Running rugby was the order of the day in the sunny Mother City. The visitors grabbed an early lead, but the Stormers XXIII bounced back with a try of their own.

The see-saw nature of the contest continued until the hosts pulled away in the final quarter. The Sharks XV scored a fourth try to earn a bonus point and showed fight to the final whistle.

It was a similar story last time out against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein as they were in the contest until tries at the death skewed the scoreboard.

The Sharks could count themselves unlucky, as one try was overturned when the TMOP spotted a knock-on a few phases back. Later, a soft knock-on over the line denied them five points.

There were plenty of flashes of brilliance on attack, with Junior Springbok star Luan Gilliomee at the centre of several potent attacks.

"I just said to the team now in the changing room, you've got to believe that the momentum will swing in our favour," Vowles told the press after the match.

"We've been highly competitive in the games and, if one or two things go our way, it's a different result. In all three games we've been competitive up until that last quarter, and then having to chase the game obviously makes it difficult.

"But I do feel we're close. I think the group is still finding each other. I know we're three weeks in, but it is a relatively new group.

"The more we play and the more time we spend together, I do believe that things will turn.

"So we're close. Like I say, those two moments before and after half-time, it could have been a different game for us.

"I'm just incredibly proud of the group and how they continually fight throughout the 80 minutes."

The Sharks XV return to Durban next week to host the undefeated Boland Cavaliers.

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