Bulls stay top with gritty win
The Bulls consolidated their position at the top of the Super 14 table on Saturday with a gritty 27-19 win over the Sharks in Pretoria.
Last Updated: 02/05/10 12:51pm
The Bulls consolidated their position at the top of the Super 14 table on Saturday with a gritty 27-19 win over the Sharks in Pretoria.
Games between these sides are always hard-fought and this was no exception as the old rivals went at it tooth and nail.
In the end the Bulls' patience paid off as they extended their unbeaten streak at Loftus Versfeld to 17games, ending the Sharks' hopes of making the semi-finals in the process.
The Bulls played their classic game of percentage rugby as they gradually built pressure until the Sharks defence could hold no more.
In soaking wet conditions, the boots of opposing fly-halves Andy Goode and Morné Steyn were given a solid work out.
Neither side was able to cross the whitewash in the first half, but there was no lack of big hits as the Sharks took the game to their hosts with some ferocious rucking.
Goode opened the scoring after six minutes from the kicking tee and gave the Sharks a 6-0 lead five minutes later. Steyn got the Bulls on the scoreboard after 15 minutes.
The opposing number 10s traded penalties until half time with the Sharks leading 12-9 at the break.
The Bulls dominated the second half, but it took them nearly 20 minutes to level the scores. After missing one early in the half, Steyn slotted a penalty to make the scores 12-12.
But that score was a catalyst for the Bulls to break clear as Wynand Olivier and Zane Kirchner linked up in sweeping move started near halfway, to put Jacques-Louis Potgieter over for the game's first try.
Steyn added another penalty with a little more than 10 minutes left to open up a 10-point gap before a clever cross-field kick from Fourie du Preez sealed the Sharks' fate.
Kirchner rose high to bump it back, Francois Hougaard couldn't hold on but Gerhard van den Heever was on hand to grab the loose ball and dive into the corner.
Rory Kockott made a sniping run with five minutes left to play to score and add some intrigue to the final minutes, but the horse, or rather Bull, had bolted.
