The Cell C Sharks hosted the Vodacom Bulls in Durban for a battle for the top of the Carling Currie Cup log. The Sharks took advantage of a yellow card in the third quarter against the Bulls to score 19 unanswered points to secure a 35-28 win and secured the top Carling Currie Cup log.
The Bulls looked in the first quarter if they would run away with the game, however, a "fightback" by the Sharks kept them in the game. The Bulls were leading 20-14 at the end of the first half.
A 10 minutes blitzkrieg cost a 14-man Bulls 19 points and momentum in the third quarter. The Sharks controlled the last quarter and walked off a well-deserved winner.
03:41 Elrigh Louw scored the Bulls first try after a dominant start by the Bulls, (00-07).
10:16 Le Roux Roets force his way over the Bulls' try-line as the Sharks are busy clawing their way back into the game, (07-07).
14:40 Johan Goosen converted a penalty, (07-10).
16:37 Lionel Cronhe converted a penalty for the Sharks to level the score (10-10).
20:00 Although the Bulls dominated the early collisions the Sharks managed to claw their way back into the game. A physical match balanced on a knife's edge.
26:44 Lizo Gqoboka scored the Bulls second try after several pick-and-go's following a lineout close to the Sharks' tryline (07-14).
29:35 A yellow card to Dylan Richardson (Sharks). The 9th penalty against the Sharks.
32:29 Lionel Cronje converted his second penalty for the Sharks (13-20).
40:00 The Bulls were in the lead at halftime. The Bulls looked in the first quarter if they would run away with the game, however, a "fightback" by the Sharks kept them in the game. The game at this stage is still up for grabs.
46:35 Stedman Gans (Bulls) off with a yellow card.
49:25 Kerron van Vuuren scored the Sharks' 2nd try from the back of a 5m lineout maul (20-20).
52:55 Great work by Thaakir Abrahams which allow Grant Williams to score an easy try for the Sharks (25-20).
60:00 The Bulls with only 14 players on the field conceded 19 points in 10 minutes. This allowed the Sharks to start the last 20 minutes in control of the scoreboard and with the momentum in their favour.
65:46 A horrible mistake by Johan Goosen allowed Murray Koster to fall on the ball and score the Sharks' bonus point try. The yellow card to Stedman Gans cost the Bulls 19 points (32-20).
70:20 Lionel Cronje converted his third penalty for the Sharks (35-20).
76:08 Thembelani Bholi (Sharks) was sent off with a yellow card.
78:32 Arno Botha scored the Bulls 3rd try (35-25).
82.50 Chris Smith secured a bonus point for the Bulls with a converted penalty.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Elrigh Louw, Lizo Gqoboka. Conversions: Johan Goosen (2). Penalties: Johan Goosen (2), Chris Smith.
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Le Roux Roets, Kerron van Vuuren, Grant Williams, Murray Koster. Conversions: Lionel Cronje (3). Penalties: Lionel Cronje (2).
Cell C Sharks: 15. Anthony Volmink, 14. Yaw Penxe, 13. Werner Kok, 12. Murray Koster, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Henco Venter, 6. Dylan Richardson, 5. Reniel Hugo, 4. Le Roux Roets, 3. Khutha Mchunu, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16. Khwezi Mona, 17. Lourens Adriaanse, 18. Thembelani Bholi, 19. Mpilo Gumede, 20. James Venter, 21. Sanele Nohamba, 22. Jeremy Ward, 23. Manie Libbok .
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Madosh Tambwe, 13. Harold Vorster, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stedman Gans, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Zak Burger, 8. Elrigh Louw, 7. Muller Uys, 6. Marcell Coetzee (c), Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Schalk Erasmus, 1. Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Mhleli Dlamini, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Arno Botha, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Sibongile Novuka, 24. Jacques van Rooyen, 25. Reinhardt Ludwig, 26. WJ Steenkamp, 27. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 28. Richard Kriel.