Brown still the king at Carisbrook

Sharks 26 Highlanders 11
 
Tony Brown returned to his old stomping ground in Dunedin tonight to orchestrate the Sharks' 26-11 Super 14 rugby win over his former brethren, the Highlanders.

First five-eighth Brown, who left the Highlanders after nine years and 83 matches last season, was no longer the crowd favourite at Carisbrook as he contributed three penalties and a conversion to his new team's cause.

In the final quarter he took command by unleashing an aerial bombardment on the Highlanders as a series of accurate up and unders kept the home side under constant pressure.

Served well by a combative pack of forwards, Brown complemented the Sharks' three tries from wings Odwa Ndungane and Henno Mentz, and later industrious flanker Jacques Botes, to undermine the Highlanders' playoff hopes.

The result, the Highlanders' third loss in six matches, saw the Sharks collect just their second win in as many outings.

The Sharks were fully deserving of the win, soaking up a prolonged physical assault from the accomplished Highlanders forwards in the opening quarter before emerging dominant after the halftime break.

In the end the Storm were successful in grinding down a Highlanders side who have almost made a science of doing the very same thing to their own opposition.

The Highlanders, with their vaunted scrum operating smoothly, looked to be well set when wing Richard Kahui opened the night's account with a try in the ninth minute.

Kahui was the beneficiary on the left after the Highlanders stole a tighthead but his effort was cancelled out just four minutes later when Ndungane displayed his pace to chip ahead and regather for a try of his own.

Highlanders fullback Ben Blair and Brown traded penalties to see the teams locked at 8-8 at halftime and further penalties from the same players left it 11-11 with 18 minutes remaining.

The Sharks finished much the stronger, their forwards -- led by Botes and hooker and captain John Smit -- finally gaining the upperhand to allow Brown that extra time needed to direct his team around the field.

The Sharks cleared out in the 65th minute when a chip ahead by substitute halfback Chris Smylie was gathered in and returned with interest. The bouncing ball fell to dangerous fullback PJ Pietersen, who made the decisive break before he directed Mentz down the right-hand touchline for a try.

Brown then slotted his third penalty to give his team a valuable eight-point buffer before the result was put beyond doubt in the 79th minute when Botes completed a storming match with a try of his own.

Yet another kick through was not cleaned up by the Highlanders, and the bounce favoured the visitors as Botes was sent on a 30m run along the same route taken earlier by Mentz.

Scores:

Sharks 26 (Odwa Ndungane, Henno Mentz, Jacques Botes tries; Tony Brown 3 pen, con)
Highlanders 11 (Richard Kahui try; Ben Blair 2 pen).
HT: 8-8.

- NZPA