The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Cell C Sharks in Pretoria in a quarter-final of the 2022 United Rugby Championship and managed to rescue the game with a Chris Smith dropgoal with the time already up. Chris Smith's drop goal secured a 30-27 win for the home team.
Although the Bulls lead 13-10 at the end of the first forty minutes there was not much to choose between the two sides in a match that is living up to expectations.
The second half's first twenty minutes belonged to the Bulls, however, the Sharks threw everything at their hosts and managed to level the score with just six minutes to go. A drop goal with time already up by Chris Smith saved the day for the Bulls
04:30 Curwin Bosch converted a penalty for the Cell C Sharks. (00-03)
12:07 Madosh Tambwe scored the Bulls' first try, falling on a ball that was kicked forward by Canan Moodie. (07-03)
15:08 Bongi Mbonambi scored the Sharks' first try of the match from the back of a 5m lineout ball. (07-10)
20:01 Chrsis Smith converted a penalty for the host. (10-10)
20:00 A physical arm wrestle between two of the top teams in the United Rugby Championship with Sharks maybe just, and only a little just the better team.
32:14 Chris Smith converted a penalty for the hosts. (13-10)
40:00 Not much to choose between the two sides with the Bulls leading 13-10 in a match that is living up to expectations.
44:15 Marcell Coetzee scored the Bulls' second try, bulldozing his way over, following wave after wave runs by his fellow forwards. (20-10)
50:06 Cornal Hendricks scored a great try after some hard yards made by the forwards resulted in a great attacking ball sent wide by the Bulls inside backs. (27-10)
57:42 Jaden Hendrikse scored the Sharks second try after taking shortcut down the edge of a loose scrum on the Bulls tryline. (27-17)
60:00 Curwin Bosch converted a penalty (27-20)
60:00 Two tries in quick succession by the Bulls early in the second half gave them a good 27-10 lead over a seemingly lackless Sharks team. The Bulls dominated at this stage using their forwards to bully their opponents with strong runs, however, the Sharks' attack started to look dangerous going into the third quarter.
74:19 The Sharks' Sikhumbuzo Notshe scored the equaliser after several minutes of constant attack by the Sharks. The Bulls' defence could just not keep the attacking men in black out (27-27)
83:33 Chris Smith scored a drop goal to give the win to the Bulls. (30-27)
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Madosh Tambwe, Marcell Coetzee, Cornal Hendricks. Conversions: Chris Smith (2). Penalties: Chris Smith (2). Drop Goal: Chris Smith.
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Bongi Mbonambi, Jaden Hendrikse, Sikhumbuzo Notshe. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2). Penalty: Curwin Bosch (2).
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15. Canan Moodie, 14. David Kriel, 13. Cornal Hendricks, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Madosh Tambwe, 10. Chris Smith, 9. Izak Burger, 8. Elrigh Louw, 7. Arno Botha, 6. Marcell Coetzee (c), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Robert Hunt, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Reinhardt Ludwig, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Morné Steyn, 23. Stedman Gans.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Werner Kok, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 8. Phendulani Buthelezi, 7. Henco Venter, 6. Siyamthanda Kolisi, 5. Reniel Hugo, 4. Le Roux Roets, 3. Thomas du Toit (c), 2. Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1. Retshegofaditswe Nche. Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Ruben van Heerden, 20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21. Cameron Wright, 22. Henry Chamberlain, 23. Ben Tapuai.