Sharks hold off Bulls, Cheetahs survive scare
THE Sharks took their opportunities in an error strewn Currie Cup match in beating the Blue Bulls 28-20 at Loftus Versfeld yesterday evening.
The Sharks handed the home team their first defeat in this year’s Currie Cup.
They missed a magnitude of tackles, but were still able to shut the Blue Bulls out and disrupt their game plan.
The score was 13-10 at half time. The Sharks made the Blue Bulls pay for an unforced error early on when a wayward offload was snapped up by the visitors, who shovelled it down the line.
Wing S’bu Nkosi evaded a few tackles to score a wellworked try in the third minute.
The Blue Bulls hit back several minutes later, courtesy of inside centre Burger Odendaal.
A few solid phases allowed Odendaal the space needed to sell a dummy – and evade a tackle – to score close to the uprights.
Flyhalf Tony Jantjies’ conversion gave his side the lead for the first and last time.
The Sharks regained the lead four minutes later, when a strong lineout drive by the forwards gave hooker Franco Marais a chance to get his name on the scoreboard.
Lock Ruben van Heerden was shown a yellow card for a trip in the 26th minute, but the Sharks failed to make use of their advantage as the home team defended like mad men.
The teams struggled to shrug off the public holiday blues, as they made a series of mistakes throughout the remainder of the first half.
A penalty goal to fullback Garth April and Jantjies were the only further points scored in the first half of the match.
After the break and some scrappy play, inside centre Lukhanyo Am broke the deadlock when he ran a sensational line to score untouched and under the poles. April was on hand to add the extras.
Jantjies and April traded penalties as their teams continued with a cat-and-mouse, back-and-forth tussle.
Van Heerden made amends for his indiscretion when he went over for a try with 15 minutes left, but April would have the final say.
April slithered through the defence to score the visitor’s bonus point try and secure a 28-20 win in Pretoria.
ý The Free State Cheetahs withstood a stellar secondhalf comeback from the Pumas to claim a 45-34 win (half time 38-10) in their encounter, at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
The defending champions stormed away with six tries in a sublime first half, before an inspired second half from the hosts almost clinched a remarkable comeback.
ý The Griquas stunned Western Province and beat them 44-34 (half time 17-15) in a windy Kimberley.
The victory ended WP’s nine-match unbeaten winning streak against the Griquas.
Both sides scored five tries each in the Currie Cup match.
Nizaam Carr, Bjorn Basson, Seabelo Senatla, Kurt Coleman and SP Marais scored for WP.
Liam Hendricks, Ederies Arendse, Renier Botha and Tiaan Dorfling scored for the home side. –