Hardly any rugby played: Plumtree
Sharks coach John Plumtree was happy to claim a scrappy 13-12 win over the Blue Bulls in atrocious conditions at Kings Park on Friday.
The win took them top of the table and landed a blow to the Pretoria outfit's hopes of making the play-offs, with Griquas playing on Saturday.
"It was just really an arm wrestle, wasn't it? A battle of inches," Plumtree said after the victory.
"The Bulls pack were heavy and we had to try and contain them.
"I'm proud of the way the boys really dug it in because we were at times getting manhandled a bit on the gain line and in the mauls, so it was a tough night for them. They're exhausted.
"Obviously territory was a big thing - kicking, contestables and set-pieces - so there was hardly any rugby played."
The hosts who trailed 9-5 at half-time, outscored their visitors by two tries to none after left wing Paul Jordaan and number eight Keegan Daniel went over either side of the break.
But it was the debatable dismissal of hooker Pieter Dixon that emerged as perhaps the most talked about incident of the game after the former Bath forward was red carded in the 70th minute for a kick to the head of Bulls flanker Arno Botha - a call made by the TMO.
"I could understand a penalty because he was reckless. It was stupid," Plumtree said.
"But it was certainty not intended and he's certainly not that type of guy. It's probably the first red card in his life.
"Hopefully he would have paid the ultimate price with the sending off and not having to sit out anymore.
"So it was reckless, but whether it deserved a red card, I don't think so."
Meanwhile, Bulls captain Dewald Potgieter felt his side adopted the right plan and had done everything they needed to do, apart from getting the win.
"We played the game the right way, especially in these weather conditions," Potgieter said.
"We created some opportunities but lost the ball at crucial times.
"Congratulations to the Sharks for closing out the game.
"Tactically we did quite a good job, but hats off to the Sharks, they're a quality team."
Comments
Realbull says...
Great effort sharks for scorring two tries in those coditions. Shame on blue bulls for kicking so much ball away! Only two games left for blue bulls to avoid promotion-relagation spot
Posted 13:47 30th September 2012