Sharks edge Bulls in red card thriller

URC REPORT: The Sharks got back to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship with a thrilling 29-22 victory over the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

Playing with one man less for almost 70 minutes, the hosts were always going to be up against it and they deserve credit for never giving up, but the Durbanites were full value for the win, making the most of their opportunities to score four tries at Loftus Versfeld even though the men in blue dominated territory and possession.

The crucial moment happened in the 11th minute, when Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn was ordered off the field with a red card for a needless tackle that was high and late on Sharks captain Lukhanyo Am.

It not only reduced the hosts to 14 men, but also robbed them of valuable momentum, and when Henco Venter (flank) stormed over from the resultant line-out, the visitors had a lead that looked unlikely minute earlier.

The Bulls were their own worst enemies, often losing the ball in contact when hot on the attack and making other unforced errors, while the Sharks, who defended very well throughout the game, waited patiently and used their opportunities.

Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) added his name to the score sheet in the 28th minute with his team’s second try, also from an attacking line-out, putting his side up by 14-0.

The hosts fought back bravely and were finally rewarded for their resilience when Cornal Hendricks (right wing) went over in the right-hand corner, but their joy was short-lived as Am, who was in sublime form, regathered the next restart, grubbered ahead and fell on the ball – after the buzzer had sounded – to restore his team’s 14-point lead at the break.

The Bulls reduced the deficit early in the second half when their hardworking captain, Marcell Coetzee, scored a power-try, but 15 minutes later, the Sharks’ lead was back at 14 points when Springbok speedster Makazole Mapimpi scored the easiest of tries from an attacking scrum, which came from yet another mistake by the hosts.

Still the men from Pretoria were not out of it and they kept hammering away, especially after Grant Williams (scrumhalf) was red carded for the visitors for a dangerous tackle on Chris Smith (flyhalf), who had to leave the field on a stretcher.

With playing numbers even, Simphiwe Matanzima (replacement prop) and Madosh Tambwe (left wing) finally found holes in the visitors’ defence, but with no recognised kicker on the field, David Kriel had to take the conversions, and unfortunately he failed to land either.

In the end, harks’ rSesolute defence held firm enough, and ensured the Durbanites will return home with a full house of five well-deserved log points, while the Bulls managed to grab two late bonus-points.

Man of the man: The award has to go to Sharks captain and centre Lukhanyo Am. He was solid in defence in the midfield and caused the Bulls some problems with ball in hand. He also scored a brilliant individual try.

The scorers:

For Bulls:
Tries: Hendricks, Coetzee, Matanzima, Tambwe
Con: Smith

For Sharks:
Tries: Venter, Mbonambi, Am, Mapimpi
Cons: Bonilla 2, Bosch
Pen: Bosch

Red cards: Morne Steyn (Bulls, 11 – dangerous play, high tackle); Grant Williams (Sharks, 62 – dangerous play, head to head)

Yellow card: Henco Venter (Sharks, 39 – repeated infringements, offside)

Teams:

Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Muller Uys, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Canan Moodie.

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Werner Kok.

Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Griffin Colby
TMO: Quinton Immelman

Additional source: SA Rugby