Bulls end Sharks' unbeaten run
REPORT: The Bulls handed the Sharks their first Currie Cup defeat of the season on Wednesday.
The hosts overturned a 18-14 halftime deficit to score a bonus-point 35-21 win over their coastal visitors, who came into the match on an unbeaten streak of four wins.
In doing so they also moved above their opponents to second spot on the log with 20 league points, just two behind the unbeaten Cheetahs.
*To recap all the drama CLICK HERE!!!
Bulls managed to score four tries and also earned a penalty try as they piled on the pressure in the second half, with the team from KwaZulu-Natal struggling in the lineouts whilst also having difficulty in dealing with the hosts' powerful maul.
Inside centre Murray Koster gave the black and white jerseys a perfect start when he dived over in the left-hand corner shortly after the kick-off.
But the light-blue jerseys hit straight back to take the lead when Madosh Tambwe dotted down Morne Steyn's pinpoint kick to the corner. Steyn stepped up to kick an equally impressive conversion attempt through the poles for a 7-5 Bulls lead.
Surprisingly it was the coastal side who looked dominant at scrum time, forcing several penalties, one of which flyhalf Jordan Chait easily steered through the uprights (8-7).
But just when the Sharks seemed to have gained the upper hand they somehow lost their way with two unnecessary yellow cards, shown to Mpilo Gumede for foul play and Hyron Andrews who pulled down a maul.
The result saw them reduced to 13-men for 10 minutes while they also conceded a penalty try which handed the hosts a 14-8 advantage lead midway through the opening half.
However, the Bulls will be left wondering how they allowed the visitors back into the match in wet conditions.
Hard running outside centre Marnus Potgieter sliced his way through the light-blue defence for his team's second try, while Chait later succeeded with a second penalty goal to hand the Sharks a slender 18-14 halfway lead.
But Gert Smal's team made an immediate impact at the restart and they managed to gain confidence in the wet to grind out a vital win.
They got the second half off to a good start when midfielder Harold Vorster made a clean break to feed scrumhalf Keagan Johannes who scored under the posts (21-18).
Powerful No 8 Arno Botha carried the ball over the try line for the home side's fourth try after the visiting team had managed to stop the advancing maul on two occasions. Steyn raised the flag with a neat conversion as they edged their way into a 28-21 advantage.
Replacement loose forward Elrigh Louw then burst through the visiting defence after a quickly taken penalty and when Steyn steered the conversion easily over, the Bulls were now in full command with the score 35-21 in their favour and less than ten minutes of play left.
Man of the match: Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn steered the ship really well, while his halfback partner Keagan Johannes also put in a noteworthy performance. However, our nod goes to Bulls flank Arno Botha, who was solid in defence.
The scorers:
For Bulls:
Tries: Tambwe, Penalty Try, Johannes, Botha, Jansen van Vuren
Cons: Steyn 4
For Sharks:
Tries: Koster, Potgieter
Cons: Chait
Pens: Chait 2, Radebe 2
Yellow cards: Mpilo Gumede (Sharks, 15 - Late and dangerous shoulder charge), Hyron Andrews (Sharks, 16 - Repeated infringement)
Teams
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Arno Botha (captain), 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Kowie Roos, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
Sharks: 15 Inny-Christian Radebe, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Murray Koster, 11. Curwin Gertse, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Celimpilo Gumede, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 James Venter (captain), 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Emile van Heerden, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Braam Reyneke, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Jeandré Labuschagne, 20 Ntsika Fisanti, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Ethan Fisher, 23 Onke Jiba
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Paul Mente, Local
TMO: Egon Seconds