Sharks stun Bulls after Bok's extra-time try

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks booked a spot in the Currie Cup Final courtesy of a superior try-scoring tally in their 40-40 draw with the Bulls in extra-time at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

It was another classic Bulls v Sharks Currie Cup play-off clash.

*To recap all the action: CLICK HERE!!!

The two sides went all out and after 100 minutes, including extra time, the score was levelled at 40-all.

The last time these two teams played to extra was in 2021 when the Bulls were crowned Currie Cup champions in the Final with a 26-19 win at Loftus Versfeld.

However, this time around the permutation, which states that the team to have scored the most tries during the match (including extra time) will be the winner.

Given the Sharks’ superior try-scoring tally, six tries to Bulls’ four, the visitors were victors.

Aside from the tries, nothing separated the teams on the scored board at full-time the score was levelled at 33-33.

Bulls Stravino Jacobs scored a five-pointer in the first 10 minutes of extra-time. Former Sharks back Boeta Chamberlain slotted the conversion for the 40-33 lead.

The replacement Trevor Nyakane scored the crucial try in the 98th minute and veteran Lionel Cronje tied the score with a conversion.

Bulls had a chance to snatch a late win, but Chambelain’s penalty fell short, the final act of this crazy semifinal was for referee AJ Jacobs to blow the final whistle.

Earlier, after 80 minutes of regulation play, scores were tied 33-33, and the 20 minutes of extra time (10 minutes each half) was added to cap off a match that saw three yellow cards (Marcell Coetzee, Dian Bleuler, Jordan Hendrikse) and a red card for Francois Venter.

From the kick-off, the encounter had all the hallmarks of a classic Currie Cup showdown and it did not disappoint.

Warm and dry weather conditions greeted the two teams before the Bulls broke their duck with an easy penalty kick by Johan Goosen.

Sharks hit back immediately. Lock Emile van Heerden charged down Bulls scrumhalf Keagen Johannes’s kick and a favourable bounce saw the lock dived over the line for the first try of the match.

Flyhalf Siya Masuku added the conversion for the 7-3 lead.

Minutes later Eduan Keyter made a break and look well on his way to the try line, but hooker Akker van der Mervwe chased him down and halted his efforts.

After 12 minutes Johannes made up for his earlier error and made a good snipe before he scored. Goosen added the extras and the Bulls took the lead 10-7.

Sharks soon celebrated when they thought Ethan Hooker went over the line, however, it was ruled No Try after match officials spotted a knock-on at the line-out.

Bulls took control of the proceedings. A Goosen penalty was followed by a well-executed short line-out which saw No.8 Cameron Hanekom dived over in the corner in fine fashion.

Sharks scrumhalf Bradley Davids managed to cut down the lead when he found a gap and dotted over for the try. Masuku failed to add the conversion.

But soon the eight-point deficit was cut to just one point. The inform flank James Venter bounced off Coetzee and stepped a few defenders before scoring.

The hosts had the last say with Goosen adding a penalty and handing his team a 23-19 lead at the break.

In the second stanza, the Bulls suffered a major blow as try-scorer Hanekom had to leave the field after an accidental boot to the head.

The Pretoria side also went down to 14 men when Coetzee was handed a yellow card for his dangerous tackle.

However, before that they extended their lead after a solid scrum was backed up by a strong run by wing Stravino Jabobs, who scored his team’s third try for the 30-19 lead.

Chasing the match, the Sharks unloaded the bench, Emmanuel Tshituka and Wrodl Cup winner Trevor Nyakane made their way to the field.

And soon John Plumtree’s men got their five-pointer after a long pass by Venter found Hooker outwide, who strolled in for his second try.

Right on the hour mark, the Sharks forwards put in some heavy carries before Springbok Esterhuizen got over the line. Masuku found the post and handed his team a 33-30 lead.

With 15 minutes to go, the Sharks’ ill-disciplined crept in. They were forced to finish the match with 12 men after yellow cards to Dian Bleuler and Jordan Hendrikse and a red card for Francois Venter.

Being 15 against 12 , the Bulls had all the possession and eventually levelled matters when Goosen slotted a penalty kick, 33-33.

With just a minute on the clock, the Bulls won a scrum penalty and opted for the post.

However, Goosen pushed his kick wide and the match ended at 33-33.

In extra time the players looked exhausted. A good thing for the visitors,  they returned to XV thanks to the red card 20-minute rule.

Scoring opportunities were few and far in between but the first half of extra time was sealed by the Bulls courtesy of a converted try by the man from Paarl Jacobs.

It was an intense battle and in the second half of extra time, Nyakane powered over for his team. Cronje added the extra to tie the score at 40-40.

But is was another error by the Sharks which could’ve been costly. Gerbrandt Grobler was handed a yellow card for taking out a player in the air.

With the clock in red, Chamberlain stepped up but his kick was short and the score remained 40-40

The Sharks will now face the Lions at Ellis Park on September 21

Man of the match: Sharks flank James Venter was an absolute workhorse. He tackled well, set up a try and even scored one.

The scorers

For Bulls:
Tries: Johannes, Hanekom, Jacobs 2
Cons: Goosen 3, Chamberlain
Pens: Goosen 4

For Sharks:
Tries: Van Heerden, Davids, Hooker 2, Esterhuizen, Nyakane
Cons: Masuku 4, Cronje

Yellow cards: Marcell Coetzee (Bulls, 48 – dangerous tackle), Dian Bleuler (Sharks, 68 – collapsing the scrum), Jordan Hendrikse (Sharks, 73 – dangerous tip tackle), Gerbrandt Grobler (Sharks, 100 – dangerous tackle)

Red card: Francois Venter (Sharks, 65 – high and dangerous tackle)

Teams: 

Bulls: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stavino Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Nizaam Carr (captain), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Merwe Olivier, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cornel Smit, 23 Celimpilo Gumede.

Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Litelihle Bester.

Referee: AJ Jacobs