Rugby-Sharks beat Chiefs to qualify for Super 14 semis

DURBAN, South Africa, May 17 (Reuters) - The Sharks qualified for the Super 14 semi-finals in dramatic fashion with a 47-25 victory over the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.

The South Africans needed to win by at least 18 points if they failed to score a bonus point to surpass the Stormers. But once they dotted down their fourth try through lock Steven Sykes in the 51st minute to earn a bonus point, it was simply a case of making sure they won the game.

Victory ensured that the Sharks finished third in the standings on 42 points.

They will now play a semi-final against the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney next Saturday after the Australians secured second place earlier in the day by beating the Queensland Reds.

The Canterbury Crusaders, who topped the standings, will host the fourth-placed Wellington Hurricanes in an all New Zealand affair in the other semi-final, which takes place on Friday.

The Sharks started the season with seven successive victories but after a draw to the Hurricanes in round eight, lost three successive matches that dropped them to sixth place with two rounds remaining.

The home side had almost done enough by halftime thanks to tries from flyhalf Ruan Pienaar, centre Adi Jacobs and hooker Bismarck du Plessis.

The Chiefs scored a first-half try though flanker Faifili Levave and then started the second half with a try from centre Mils Muliaina.

A Stephen Donald penalty in the 46th minute brought them to within three points of the lead, but it was the closest they came.