Masuku's boot makes semifinal statement
MATCH REPORT: The Sharks put down a big marker ahead of the Currie Cup semifinals, beating the Bulls 24-18 in their Round 10 encounter in Durban on Sunday.
The result had no impact on the final standings and the two teams will now head to Pretoria where they will clash again in the semifinal next week.
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However, with both teams fielding a significant number of their United Rugby Championship players - after a season littered with fringe and Under-20 players - the win at Kings Park will give the Sharks the confidence they need heading to Loftus Versfeld.
In the pouring rain and blustery conditions in the Shark Tank, the entire game was littered with errors - both teams struggling to get a foothold in the match.
The slippery and wet conditions also made chasing the game even more challenging.
The outcome hinged on the boot of flyhalf Siya Masuku - who kicked four penalties and a conversion in a game in which both teams scored two tries.
* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
* (The article continues below ....)
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After a sloppy start, the Bulls eventually opened their account in the 15th minute - hooker Armand van der Merwe barging over from a line-out maul close to the line. Flyhalf Jaco van der Walt was wide of the mark with the conversion attempt - 5-0.
The comedy of errors continued, as the game lumbered from one set piece to the next.
At the end of the first quarter, Van der Walt stretched the lead for the visitors to 8-0, with a penalty.
The Sharks worked their way back into the game and the pressure resulted in Bulls centre David Kriel being yellow carded for a breakdown offence.
A minute later the Bulls were down two players - fellow centre Harold Vorster was yellow-carded for a head-contact tackle.
The second of the two cards followed a try by Sharks hooker Dylan Richardson, with flyhalf Siya Masuku adding the conversion to make it a one-point (7-8) game.
The Sharks failed to exploit their numerical advantage, with the visitors taking that one-point lead into the break.
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A scrum penalty soon after the restart saw Masuku claim the lead for the home team with a penalty - 10-8.
That was followed a breakdown penalty against the Sharks, Van der Walt reclaiming the lead - 11-10.
With frustration starting to get the better of some players, Bulls hooker Armand van der Merwe was penalised. Masuku put the home team back in the lead - 13-11, after 47 minutes.
However, a powerful scrum and a sublime chip-and-chase by scrumhalf Embrose Papier had the visitors back in the lead. Van der Walt made it 18-13 with the conversion.
With 15 minutes left on the clock the Sharks' Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi was penalised for being in front of the kicker, but Van der Walt hooked the kick past the left upright - still leaving the game in the balance.
An offside penalty by Bulls replacement hooker Johan Grobbelaar allowed Masuku to narrow the gap to just two points - 16-18 with 10 minutes remaining.
With six minutes left on the clock the Sharks - off the back of a powerful scrum - saw Cameron Wright putting fullback Jordan Hendrikse over. The conversion was wide, but the Sharks had the lead - 21-18.
A late penalty saw Masuku make the final score 24-18.
The scorers
For the Sharks
Tries: Richardson, Hendrikse
Con: Masuku
Pens: Masuku 4
For the Bulls
Tries: Van der Merwe, Papier
Con: Van der Walt
Pens: Van der Walt 2
Yellow cards: David Kriel (Bulls, 30 - repeated infringements, hands on the ground at the breakdown), Harold Vorster (Bullas, 31 - foul play, head contact in the tackle)
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Litelihle Bester, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Lappies Labuschagne, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Jaco Williams
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Henry Immelman, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sibongile Novuka, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Celimpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Corné Lavagna, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Stedman Gans.
Referee: Griffin Colby
TMO: Morné Ferreira
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