The Cell C Sharks were relentless in their New Year’s Eve derby against the Vodacom Bulls and scored a convincing bonus-point 47-20 win.
The first 18 minutes of the first quarter was an arm wrestle with the sides trading penalties. However, a moment of individual brilliants by winger Canan Moodie gave the Vodacom a deserved 13-06 lead going into the second quarter. The Vodacom Bulls have the edge at this stage as they dominated the possessional and territorial statistics.
The Cell C Sharks upped the pressure on the Vodacom Bulls' defence during the second quarter, which resulted in several penalties awarded to the Cell C Sharks. A relentless Cell C Sharks team scored 24 unanswered points, including three tries, giving the hosts a 30-13 lead going into the second half.
The third quarter continue much as the second quarter, however, the Vodacom Bulls started to get their hands on more quality ball and are slowly clawing their way back into the match.
During the fourth quarter, the pace of the match slowed down a lot, however, the Cell C Sharks did more than enough to beat their visitors 47-20 in a brilliant display of relentless rugby.
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Penalty try, Grant Williams, Bongi Mbonambi, Rohan Janse van Rensburg (2). Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4). Penalties: Curwin Bosch (3)
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Canan Moodie, Johan Goosen. Conversions: Chris Smith (2). Penalties: Chris Smith (2).
As it Happened:
01:23 Chris Smith converted a penalty for the Vodacom Bulls. (00-03)
08:19 Curwin Bosch converted a penalty for the Cell C Sharks. (03-03)
14:30 Chris Smith converted a penalty for the Vodacom Bulls. (03-06)
16:38 Curwin Bosch converted a penalty for the Cell C Sharks. (06-06)
18:17 Canan Moodie collected his own chip over the top to score the Vodacom Bulls' first try. A kind bounce off the chip gave Moodie an easy passage to the open tryline of the Sharks. (06-13)
27:51 Curwin Bosch converted a penalty for the Cell C Sharks. (09-13)
30:48 A penalty try was awarded to the Cell C Sharks. (16-13)
30:48 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) was sent off with a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown.
37:48 Cyle Brink (Vodacom Bulls) was sent off with a yellow card following several team warnings to the Vodacom Bulls.
39:04 A brilliant individual try by Grant Williams resulted from brilliant footwork by Williams who was under pressure after a scrum on the Vodacom Bulls tryline. (23-13)
45:54 Bongi Mbonambo scored the Cell C Sharks' third try from the back of a 5m lineout maul. (30-13)
50:25 Rohan Janse van Rensburg scored the Cell C Sharks' fourth and bonus-point try from a brilliant setpiece move. Great handling and interplay by the hosts. (37-13)
57:48 Great interplay between Canan Moodie and Johan Goosen allowed Goosen to go over in the corner for the Vodacom Bulls' second try. (37-20)
61:54 Curwin Bosch added another converted penalty. (40-20)
77:54 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) was sent off for his second yellow of the much, which resulted in an automatic red.
81-12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg scored his second try of the day after intercepting a pass from the Vodacom Bulls. (47-20)
Teams:
Cell C Sharks: 15. Boeta Chamberlain, 14. Marnus Potgieter, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7. Henco Venter, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Ox Nché. Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Dian Bleuler, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Phepsi Buthelezi, 21. Jaden Hendrikse, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Yaw Penxe.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. Johan Goosen, 14. Canan Moodie, 13. Cornal Hendricks, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10. Chris Smith, 9. Bernard van der Linde, 8. Elrigh Louw, 7. Cyle Brink, 6. Marco Van Staden, 5. Ruan Nortje (c), 4. Ruan Vermaak, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Sebastian Lombard, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Lionel Mapoe, 23. David Kriel.
