NSW Waratahs earn a draw with last minute magic against Sharks in Durban

THE Waratahs remain unbeaten ​this season ​after a 76th minute try ​on debut by ​reserve halfback Mitch Short secured a 24-all draw against the Sharks in Durban overnight.

Waratahs Israel Folau (C) runs with the ball during the SuperXV rugby union match between Sharks and Waratahs at The Kings Park Stadium.

THE Waratahs remain unbeaten ​this season ​after a 76th minute try ​on debut by ​reserve halfback Mitch Short secured a 24-all draw against the Sharks in Durban overnight.

But while the result provided a valuable two points in Africa, there was ​no celebration from the NSW camp, with coach Daryl Gibson conceding the Waratahs were “pretty poor” at Kings Park.

The draw came at a cost, too, with key playmaker Kurtley Beale leaving with the field with a rib cartilage injury in the first half, and Curtis Rona also coming off injured.

In a scrappy match marred by handling errors, neither team led by more than seven throughout and it was the Sharks who crept ahead to lead by 24-17 with left on the clock.

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Waratahs Israel Folau (C) runs with the ball during the SuperXV rugby union match between Sharks and Waratahs.

Off a Sharks’ clearance kick, NSW five-eighth Bernard Foley launched a counter-attack from within in his own half and found Lalaki Foketi on the left sideline, who passed back to Bryce Hegarty, who in turn found Short unmarked back outside.

The Randwick youngster​ ​sprinted 20 metres to score Foley reprised his Iceman routine by nailing a conversion from the sideline to draw level.

It was another ​display of resilience by the Waratahs after they beat the Stormers in the 81st minute and while any points earned on the road are treasured, the Tahs acknowledged they still had much work to do to be competitive in Super Rugby.

The Waratahs’ gritty defence was their strongest highlight, and a much improved scrum held firm until some issues re-emerged post bench reshuffling in the second half.

Waratahs Michael Hooper (C) breaks through the Sharks defensive line.

Ball handing in attack was again far from crisp and penetration at the line was infrequent, via force or guile.

The Tahs were lucky the Sharks’ ball retention was even worse. While ​some of it was due to NSW defensive pressure, most of the hosts’ problems with the ball were self-inflicted and ​their ​stopped them converting pressure and territory into more points.

“I thought we were pretty poor tonight to be honest. we lacked ball control, turned the ball over, put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Gibson said post-match.

“To come away with a game with two points, sure, I am happy about that but I am certainly not happy with our performance

“I don’t know whether both teams walk away happy with that. Certainly we are not walking away rejoicing at all. We looked at our own performance and had a pretty honest assessment in the changing room. We know we have to be much better if we are going to be competitive in this competition.”

Waratahs Lalakai Foketi (C) is tackled by Sharks players.

One mitigating factor for the Waratahs was they managed to get another result even after they reshuffled their line-up several times during the match.

Beale’s departure saw many positional changes, and the entire bench was on the field for the finish of the match and again did their job well.

After a week of hard work on their scrum, NSW scored from the set-piece in the fourth minute to halfback Jake Gordon when he scooted from the base.

Springboks centre Lukhanyo Am responded for the first of his two tries courtesy of some nice offloading but neither side could push ahead, and the teams were locked at 10-all at halftime.

Am’s second try and the conversion gave the home side an advantage early in the second half but NSW answered via Michael Hooper, who was again immense for his team.

A botched quick lineout by the Sharks saw Tom Robertson collect the ball and feed Hooper, who turned on the burners and raced 45 metres to score.

The Sharks looked to have done enough when five-eighth Robert Du Preez converted his own 71st minute try, which came after a neat chip-and-chase.

But NSW didn’t give up and they attacked their way to a draw.

SCOREBOARD

SHARKS 24 (Lukhanyo Am 2, Robert du Preez tries du Preez 3 cons pen) drew NSW WARATAHS 24 (Jake Gordon, Michael Hooper, Mitch Short tries Bernard Foley 3 cons pen) at Kings Park Stadium. Referee: Jaco Peyper

Stephan Lewies of the Cell C Sharks out jumps Ned Hanigan of the Waratahs.