The Vodacom Bulls secured the eighth spot on the United Rugby Championship Table with a convincing 41-12 win against the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.
Following a period of fifteen minutes of unstructured play, it was eventually Canan Moodie who scored the Bulls' first try.
The Bulls continued to “dominate” territory and eventually Sebastian de Klerk controlled a kick-pass from Handre Pollard to score the Bulls' second try to extend the Bulls’ lead to 10-00, with fourteen minutes still to play in the second half.
With ten minutes to play, Harold Vorster attacked off the back of a maul and passed to Embrose Papier, who finished off the seventy-meter run with the Bulls’ third try. Pollard converted to extend the Bulls’ lead to 17-00.
With three minutes to play, Sebastian de Klerk caught his own kick to spread it out wide to Embrose Papier, who scored his second try of the match and extended the Bulls' lead to 22-00, which was the halftime score.
The Sharks started the second half like a house on fire, and following a fifteen-man attack, it was eventually Edwill van der Merwe who scored in the corner to cut their hosts’ lead to seventeen points and thirty minutes still to play in the second half.
The Sharks continued to increase the pressure on the Bulls' tryline, and with twenty minutes still to play, Hanro Jacobs bulldozed his way over the Bulls’ tryline. Jordan Hendrikse converted to cut the Bulls’ lead to 22-12.
The Bulls’ reply was immediate when Harold Vorster received a well-timed pass from Handre Pollard to score the Bulls' fifth try. Pollard converted to extend the Bulls’ lead to 29-12.
With twelfe minutes to play, Paul de Wet sniped from the back of a dominant scrum to score the Bulls’ sixth try. Pollard added the extra two points to extend the Bulls' lead to 36-12.
With time running out, Harold Vorster crashed over the Sharks' tryline for his second try of the match, securing a seven-try 41-12 win.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Canan Moodie, Sebastian de Klerk, Embrose Papier (2), Harold Vorster (2), Paul de Wet. Conversions: Handre Pollard.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Try: Edwill van der Merwe, Hanro Jacobs. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Elrich Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Morne Smith, 2 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Willie le Roux, 23 Stravino Jacobs
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Jaco Williams, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikste, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Thomas Dyer, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Siya Masuku, Yaw Penxe.