Sharks coach John Plumtree, happy with his team’s performance after they moved to the top of the Currie Cup standings by outclassing Griquas 41-6 at the weekend, is determined to make amends for his team’s First Round loss to Western Province.

The victory over Griquas, who topped the table through the first six weeks, ensured that the defending champion Sharks reached the halfway stage of the competition three points clear of their nearest rivals – Western Province.

The Sharks, on 27, head of a chasing bunch of WP, Griquas and the Blue Bulls – all on 24 points.

And the Durban outfit can put some space between them and Province when the two sides meet in a top-of-the-table clash in Durban this coming Saturday.

“I think after our first game defeat to Western Province in the competition, the guys have really worked well together as a team and have quickly built up some useful rhythm which will hopefully count in increase as the Currie Cup continues,” Plumtree said after team’s win over Griquas.

“But we are happy with where we are at at the moment and what we’ve achieved thus far.

“There’s not going to be too many easy games in this competition and I still believe any side can almost beat the other.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a better start to the second half [of the season] and after going down to Province in our first game at Newlands, we now have the chance to get one over them in Durban in our next game.” 

Plumtree’s team ran in five tries against Griquas, thanks to scores from centre Waylon Murray, scrumhalf Charl McLeod, flyhalf Monty Dumond, wing Lwazi Mvovo and flank Keegan Daniel.

Dumond converted all five tries and also kicked two penalties to end the match with a personal haul of 21 points.