The Vodacom Bulls secured their place in the URC Final against Leinster in Dublin with a deserved 25-13 win at Loftus Versfeld in front of 47,214 passionate spectators.
Following a good first twenty minutes of the match, the Bulls led 12-00, however, yellow cards to Vorster, Hanekom and Coetzee caused a momentum shift which the Sharks could not convert into points. The Bulls started the second half with Hanekom and Coetzee still on the bench. The Bulls "dominated" the second half to win 25-23.
Following a try disallowed for the Sharks, the Bulls attacked and following a brilliant break by Emrose Paper, Sebastian de Klerk broke several tackles to score in the corner. Goosen converted to edge the Bulls 07-00 in the lead after eight minutes of play.
The Bulls' domination grew until a brilliant cross kick by Sebastian de Klerk was controlled by Moodie to score in the corner, extending the Bulls' lead to 12-00 after twenty minutes of play in the first half.
The teams traded penalties during the final twenty minutes, and the Bulls led 15-03 going into the second half.
After four minutes of play and the Sharks throwing everything they had at the Bulls' attack, Makazole Mapimpi scored in the corner to cut the lead of the Bulls to seven points.
The Sharks continued their wave after wave of attacks, and eventually, Ethan Hooker scored in the corner to make it a two-point game and thirty minutes to play.
A Keagan Johannes converted penalty was followed by a brilliant try by David Kriel with fourteen minutes to play in the second half. Johannes converted to extend the Bulls' lead to 25-13.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, David Kriel. Conversions: Johan Goosen, Keagan Johannes. Penalties: Johan Goosen, Keagan Johannes.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Ethan Hooker. Penalty: Jordan Hendrikse.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (c), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne’ Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Emanuel Tshituka, 23 Yaw Penxe.