Fourteen-man Sharks edge Bulls
Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:00
Shark run: Powerful prop Deon Carstens
The Sharks, reduced to 14 men for half-an-hour of the match, managed to hold on for a deserved 19-13 win over the Blue Bulls in their Currie Cup Round Three match in Durban on Friday.
Yellow cards to lock Albert van den Berg (for foul play in the 32nd minute), flank Jacques Botes (foul play in the 52nd minute) and replacement hooker Skipper Badenhorst (repeated infringements, in the 73rd minute) meant the Bulls had a numerical advantage for almost half the match.
However, the Sharks produced a gutsy display on defence in a game in which both teams scored one try, with Rory Kockott's unerring boot kicking them to victory.
The win saw the Sharks go to second place on the standings, on nine points, the same as the Bulls but with a better points difference.
For the Bulls it was their first defeat of the season in a match that saw the home side overshadow the visitors at breakdown and play the more direct rugby.
Even the three yellow cards did not deter the Sharks.
The crucial score in this hard-fought forward battle came inside the final 10 minutes, a try by replacement hooker Skipper Badenhorst, which took the score to 19-6 and took the match away from the Bulls.
The visitors eventually got some reward with a try a minute after the final hooter, to secure a vital bonus point.
Overall, the Sharks were good value for the win.
They had more possession, and varied their play more than the Blue Bulls - who drove up most of their possession until near the end of the match.
The first half belonged to the home team. They controlled the breakdowns, took it wide when possible and with Stefan Terblanche always prominent, often stretched the Blue Bulls' defence.
The first half was not great fare for those who expected try-feast, but it certainly was real confrontational stuff as the two packs hit into one another with the Blue Bulls opting for driving play rather than spinning it wide.
Jean Deysel was at the forefront of the Sharks' effective drives in the tight-loose with Springbok Deon Carstens not far behind. And while they drove and Keegan Daniel foraged, the Bulls were on the back foot more often than not.
The Sharks were more than good value for their half-time 9-3 lead. They controlled the one threatening line-out maul by the Blue Bulls well, and turned around a number of balls on the ground.
Unsure handling when it counted, an injudicious kick or two and the yellow-carding of Albert van den Berg with his team in total control, which saw the cancellation of a try, helped the Blue Bulls to stay in contention.
Van den Berg struck an opponent with an elbow some 40 metres back in a move that saw Monty Dumont go over next to the posts - to no avail.
Up front Jacques Burger was good on the drive for the Bulls and always on hand to take it further. And it was his drive that saw that Jacques Botes being yellow-carded for a side entry shoulder-charge.
The Blue Bulls, with reserves aplenty on the field and taking four Sharks line-outs to the one own throw they conceded, suddenly and briefly looked more dangerous halfway in the third quarter.
A second Brummer penalty in the 62nd minute brought the Bulls back into contention at 6-9.
But they didn't push on and capitalise when on the attack and gave the Sharks the opportunity to regain control.
The home team had the better of the next 20 minutes and Rory Kockott, who did many good things, stretched the lead to 12-6 after 68 minutes - with no side having come close to scoring a try if the disallowed effort by Dumont is discounted.
But just two minutes later Skipper Badenhorst, after some great interplay where Keegan Daniel and Odwa Ndungane were prominent, went over and with the successful conversion it became a 13-point lead for the Sharks at 19-6.
A third yellow-card a minute later to Badenhorst didn't help the Bulls who had to score two goals in seven minutes to win the match.
But a promising drive from a line-out saw a penalty awarded to the Sharks three metres from their own line, and that was the ball game.
Right on time, following a series of good rucks and mauls, Blue Bulls flank Dewald Potgieter scored next to the posts for Brummer to convert and get a single point for the Blue Bulls from the match.
Man of the match: There were many brave soles, with players like Jean Deysel and Jacques Botes doing yeoman work at the breakdown and on defence. But our award goes to scrumhalf Rory Kockott for his brilliant control, sound option taking and great kicking game. He also kicked what turned out to be 11 match-winning points.
The scorers:
For the Sharks:
Try: Badenhorst
Con: Kockott
Pens: Kockott 3
DG: Swanepoel
For the Blue Bulls:
Try: Potgieter
Con: Brummer
Pens: Brummer 2
Yellow cards: Albert van den Berg (Sharks, 32 - foul play, striking with the elbow), Jacques Botes (Sharks, 52 - foul play, shoulder charge), Skipper Badenhorst (Sharks, 73 - repeated infringements, killing the ball)
Teams:
The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Andries Strauss, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Monty Dumond, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Len Olivier, 22 Luzuko Vulindlu.
Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14
Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Marius Delport, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Jacques Burger, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün (captain), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Jaco Engels, 19 Fudge Mabeta, 20 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Francois Hougaard.
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant Referees: Tiaan Jonker, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Michael Cupido
Contact Us | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy
