BULLS, SHARKS CHASE GLORY
Over the years, only four Currie Cup finals have taken place between the Bulls and the Sharks, with each team winning twice. Rudolph Jacobs takes a look at those encounters.
1956
Northern Transvaal 9 Natal 8 The game was played at Kingsmead cricket ground and Natal held an 8-6 lead at half-time in their first-ever final. It was a tight contest with tries for Northerns being scored by wing Willa Esterhuizen and flank Schalk van Dyk, while wing Dolf Bekker kicked a drop goal. Natal’s only try was scored by wing Gavin Duffy, while centre Roy Dryburgh kicked one penalty and added a conversion. In those days the home team were still required to provide the match official, and the referee was Bawden Coombie.
1990
Natal 18 Northern Transvaal 12
Northerns centre Pieter Nel tore a hamstring when he ran out at Loftus Versfeld and Natal caught the hosts off-guard by naming a third lock, Steve Atherton on the flank just prior to kick-off. Still regarded as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Currie Cup, Natal went on to earn their first title. A late try by Natal wing Tony Watson was followed by a Joel Stransky penalty after a Northerns player dived knee-first on Watson, while Stransky added a conversion and three more penalties. Fullback Gerbrandt Grobler scored Northerns’ try and added a penalty, while Naas Botha scored a drop goal and a conversion.
2003
Blue Bulls 40 Natal Sharks 19
The Blue Bulls led 18-7 at halftime at Loftus. Sharks flyhalf Butch James and prop Ollie le Roux were yellow-carded. Blue Bulls centre Ettienne Botha, who tragically died a few years later, was the star, with two tries, while the other tries were scored by scrum-half Fourie du Preez, wing Gavin Passens and fullback Johan Roets. Flyhalf Louis Strydom landed three conversions and three penalties. Th Sharks’ tries were scored by flank AJ Venter, scrum-half Dave von Hoesslin and centre Deon Kayser, while James added two conversions.
2008
Sharks 14 Blue Bulls 9
In a titanic battle in Durban, the Sharks were full value for their first Currie Cup title in 12 years, scoring the only two tries of the game through scrum-half Ruan Pienaar and centre Frans Steyn. Pienaar added one conversion and their French flyhalf Freddie Michalak the other. The Bulls had to be satisfied with two penalties and a drop goal from flyhalf Morne Steyn. The Bulls were captained by Bok legend Victor Matfield and the Sharks by lock Johann Muller, while the victorious World Cup Bok skipper of the previous year, John Smit, only came on as a replacement for hooker Bismarck du Plessis in the 71st minute.