Bulls upstage Sharks in the Tank
The Sharks dominated the first 25 minutes as the Bulls struggled to get any rhythm.
Joe Pietersen took advantage of a number of Bulls mistakes by slotting over two penalties during this period.
The Bulls continued to run the ball from deep and Burger Odendaal made a number of good breaks before going off with an injury.
Jamba Ulengo went over for a well-worked backline try.
Schoeman added the conversion and the Bulls led for the first time in the match – they would go into halftime at 7-10.
The Bulls dominated the match from this point on and showed why they are regarded as Currie Cup contenders.
Their dominance was rewarded when Deon Stegmann went over for their second try, which Schoeman converted.
Schoeman added a penalty before the Sharks fought back to score a freakish try as the ball came off Garth April's foot and bounced perfectly for him to go over for the try – which Pietersen converted.
The game ended with the Bulls winning 17-13 and possibly ending the Sharks hope of a semifinal spot.
Man of the match: Deon Stegmann had a very strong game in defence and also managed to score a very good try.
Scorers:
For Sharks:
Tries: April
Con: Pietersen
Pens: Pietersen 2
For Bulls:
Tries: Ulengo, Stegmann
Cons: Schoeman 2
Pen: Schoeman
Yellow cards: Mzamo Majola (Sharks, 80 – Foul play, taking man around the neck)
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Odwa Ndungane, 14 Wandile Mjekevu, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Sibusiso Sithole, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Philip van der Walt (captain), 7 Christiaan de Bruin, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 David McDuling, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Gerhard Engelbrecht, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Marco Wentzel, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Heimar Williams, 22 Garth April.
Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Pieter Labuschagne (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Rudolph Snyman, 19 Ruan Steenkamp, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dries Swanepoel.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Pretorius
TMO: Marius Jonker
