Montgomery stars as Sharks beat Chiefs

Sione Lauaki of the Chiefs charges forward this morning. Touchline / Getty Images

Sharks 30 Chiefs 21

DURBAN, South Africa - South Africa fullback Percy Montgomery scored 25 points on Saturday to guide the Sharks to a 30-21 Super 14 win over the Chiefs.

Montgomery, playing at first five-eighths, scored two tries and kicked three conversions and three penalties for a haul of 25 points.

The Chiefs took the spoils from a bruising first 10 minutes during which hulking number eight Sione Lauaki crashed over to score after a lineout close to the Sharks' line.

Six minutes later the home side turned the tide when halfback Ruan Pienaar scored a thrilling solo try after ripping open the defence with a jinking run from halfway.

Moments later Pienaar was instrumental again when Montgomery gained possession from a loose scrum on the Chiefs' line and dived over a heap of bodies to score.

Montgomery converted to put the Sharks 14-7 ahead midway through the first half. He slotted a penalty four minutes from halftime after left wing Henno Mentz was felled by a head-high tackle by halfback Byron Kelleher.

Montgomery scored his second try two minutes from the break after Sharks flanker AJ Venter charged down a hurried attempted clearance by Chiefs first five-eighths Stephen Donald.

Donald pulled back three points with a penalty on the halftime siren, but in the 61st minute his conversion hit the upright and stayed out after right wing Sosene Anesi scored the Chiefs' second.

The visitors earned the try by applying intense pressure and camping in the Sharks' 22 after halftime. The Chiefs spent much of the second half in Sharks' territory but the home side's defence held firm.

- REUTERS