With the Currie Cup semi-final matches already decided before the match the Hollywoodbets Sharks edged XV Vodacom Bulls 24-18 in extremely wet and difficult conditions.
The Vodacom Bulls will host the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Pretoria next weekend in a semi-final of the 2024 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division
The Vodacom had a good start to the game and deservedly took the lead when Akker van der Merwe bulldozed his way over the Sharks' tryline from the back of a five-meter lineout maul to take an early 05-00 lead. Jaco van der Walt converted a penalty minutes later to extend the Bulls lead to 08-00 with eighteen minutes to play in the first half.
Thereafter, the Sharks started to get their hand on quality attacking ball to threaten the Bulls' tryline for several minutes until Dylan Richardson bulldozed his way over the tryline for the Sharks' first try and points of the match.
Despite two yellow cards the Bulls' defence kept the charging Sharks from scoring during the final minutes of the match and led 08-07 going into the second half.
Siya Masuku converted two early penalties to which Jaco van der Walt replied with a converted penalty of his own after just five minutes of play in the second half.
After ten minutes of play in the second half, Embrose Papier followed up his own kick to score the Bulls' second try to extend the Bulls' lead to 18-12.
The wet conditions worsened resulting in several errors by both sides, which resulted in several penalties. Siya Masuku converted a penalty with twelve minutes still to play, reducing the Bulls' lead to just two points, the Bulls leading 18-16.
A dominant scrum by the Sharks gave Jordan Hendrikse just enough space to crash over for the Sharks to retake the lead with 21-18 and six minutes still to play.
A final converted penalty by the Sharks' Siya Masuku after time was already up on the clock secured a 24-18 win over their host in next weekend's Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final.
Scorers:
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV: Tries: Dylan Richardson, Jordan Hendrikse. Conversion: Siya Masuku. Penalties: Siya Masuku (4).
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Akker van der Merwe, Embrose Papier. Conversion: Jaco van der Walt. Penalties: Jaco van der Walt (2).
Teams:
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Litelihle Bester, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (c), 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Trevor Nyakane,18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Lappies Lubuschagne, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Jaco Williams
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Henry Immelman, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sibongile Novuka, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Celimpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Corné Lavanga, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Stedman Gans.
