An ill-disciplined but spirited Hollywoodbets Sharks earned a well-deserved 29-19 bonus-point win over hosts Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday evening.
The Vodacom Bulls had an electric start when Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored the Bulls' first try of the match. David Kriel converted to extend the Bulls' lead to 07-00 after just three minutes of play.
Five minutes later the Sharks spread the ball wide from a lineout for Ethan Hooker to score in the opposite corner. Jordan Hendrikse converted to level the scores 07-07.
The slick handling and hard running of the Sharks' backline helped them to set up camp in the Bulls' half, however, they could not add any points during the following twenty minutes of play.
A yellow card to Willie le Roux gave the Sharks a 10-07 following a penalty conversion by Jordan Hendrikse with eight minutes to play in the first half.
The Sharks deservedly led 10-07 at the halftime break, however, admittingly the last thirty minutes was a bit of a bore-fest. The Sharks backline was at times sublime, however, losing Trevor Nyakane and Bongi Mbonambi was costly as the Bulls' scrum became dominant during the second quarter of the match.
The Sharks were reduced to thirteen players when Corne Rahl followed Jason Jenkins who was sent off late in the first half.
From the resulting penalty, the Bulls scored their second try when Johan Grobbelaar scored of the back of a five-meter lineout-maul to lead 12-10 after six minutes of play in the second half.
Ntuthuko Mchunu followed Rahl four minutes later with a yellow card, to reduce the Sharks' pack of forwards to just five players.
Back to fourteen players and with twenty-five minutes to play, Jurenzo Julius broke down the touchline and offloaded to Jordan Hendrikse, who scored the Sharks' second try to retake the lead 15-12.
The Sharks continued in broken play and Tino Mavesere pounced on a dropped ball by the Bulls to score the Sharks' third try and extend the visitors' lead to 22-12.
Four minutes later the Bulls could not control a box kick, whereafter, the Sharks pounced for Yaw Penxe to score the Sharks' fourth and bonus point try. Masuku converted to extend the Sharks' lead to 29-12.
The Bulls struck back immediately when Johan Grobbelaar scored their third try. Boeta Chamberlain converted to cut the Sharks' lead to 29-19, which was the final score.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Jan-Hendrik Willemse, Johan Grobbelaar (2). Conversion: David Kriel, Boeta Chamberlain.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Tries: Ethan Hooker, Jordan Hendrikse, Tino Mavesere, Yaw Penxe. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse, Siya Masuku (2). Penalty: Jordan Hendrikse.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Willie le Roux, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig (c), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Aphiwe Dyantyi.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (c), 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Jannes Potgieter, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Francois Venter, 23 Jaco Williams.