Sharks close in on the Bulls

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Sharks closed the gaps on the table-topping Bulls with an impressive win in a hot and humid Durban on Saturday.

The 32-29 win saw the Sharks reclaim second place on the standings.

The Bulls, who could have earned a late draw, saw flyhalf Morne Steyn hook his penalty post the left upright – leaving with a losing bonus point.

They still hold onto first place, with 33 points, followed by the Sharks (28) and Western Province (26).

* As it happened. To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!

From the outset, both teams made liberal use of the boot.

Five minutes into the match, from a maul penalty, Morne Steyn had a shot at goal – pushing it wide to the right.

Two minutes later, a ruck penalty, gave Steyn another shot at goal. This time he was on target – 3-0 to the visitors.

In the 13th minute, a high-tackle penalty saw Curwin Bosch slot the kick to level the scores – 3-all.

Minutes later Bosch slotted one from just on 60 metres out, after another ruck penalty, making it 6-3 to the hosts.

The penalty feast continued – the Bulls getting a breakdown penalty and Steyn levelled the scores up at 6-all after 18 minutes.

At the end of the fist quarter the Sharks were reduced to 14 men – when centre Marius Louw hit the Bulls flyhalf, Steyn, high and was sent to the sin bin

The Bulls suffered the same reduction in playing resources – Jacques van Rooyen getting his tackle on Henco Venter wrong sand also went for a stint in the sin bin. Bosch slotted the penalty for a 9-6 lead.

Just on the half-hour mark Manie Libbok produced a sublime off-load to his captain Lukhanyo Am, who sprinted over for the first try. Bosch pushed his conversion attempt wide – 14-6.

Steyn narrowed the gap to 9-14 with a penalty from an illegally sacked maul – which is how it stayed to half-time.

Early in the second half, a scrum penalty saw Bosch stretch the lead back to eight points – 17-9.

The Bulls’ reply was swift – Marco van Staden managed to worm his way over from close range, after a maul and few phases. Steyn slotted the conversion – making it a one-point game, 16-17.

Minutes later Steyn slotted a penalty, when the Sharks’ backs went offside, putting the Bulls in the lead for the first time – 19-17 after 54 minutes.

And almost immediately the Sharks were again penalised at the breakdown, Steyn stretching the lead to 22-17.

From the restart the Bulls were penalised and Bosch made it a one-point game – 20-22, after 59 minutes.

However, the Bulls responded in sublime fashion, a backline move from a ruck putting Cornel Hendricks into space. He sold the ultimate dummy and strolled over for his team’s second try. Steyn added the conversion – 29-20.

The Sharks continued taking the fight to the Bulls, winning a penalty and setting up a line-out. The powerful maul allowed replacement hooker Kerron van Vuren to go over. Bosch hit the upright with his conversion attempt – 25-29.

A moment of brilliance from Bosch – a sublime cross-field kick – gifted the ball to Yaw Penxe in space. The wing strolled over. Bosch, from near the touchline, slotted the conversion for a three-point lead – 32-29, with four minutes remaining.

With time up, and the clock ticking well into 80 minutes, the Bulls won a scrum penalty. Steyn hooked it past the left – gifting the Sharks the win.

Man of the match: Morne Steyn, despite his last-minute miss, had a good game and kept the Bulls in the game with his boot. Duane Vermeulen had his moments, while Trevor Nyakane’s workrate and scrumming were also impressive. Marco van Staden was again the Bulls’ most productive player – with his work at the breakdown, on defence, strong carries and crucial second-half try. Sikhumbuzo Notshe also had his moments for the Sharks. Manie Libbok, with some sublime off-loading, and returning captain Lukhanyo Am, organising the defence, were also impressive. Our award goes to Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch – who again showed great game management and used his educated boot to great effect.

The scorers

For the Sharks
Tries: Am, Van Vuuren, Penxe
Con: Bosch
Pens: Bosch 5

For the Bulls
Tries: Van Staden, Hendricks
Cons: Steyn 2
Pens: Steyn 5

Yellow cards: Marius Louw (Sharks, 19 – foul play, high tackle), Jacques van Rooyen (Bulls, 25 – foul play, high tackle)

Teams

Sharks: 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Phepsi Buthelezi, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Jeremy Ward.

Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Stravino Jacobs.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry, Aimee Barrett-Theron
TMO: Marius Jonker