Bulls guarantee top two finish with hard-fought bonus-point win over Sharks

The Bulls have secured a top-two spot after they beat South African rivals the Sharks 26-14 in the final round of the United Rugby Championship in Durban.

The visitors scored four tries on the day through the in-form David Kriel while hookers Johan Grobbelaar and Akker van der Merwe (2) also crossed to secure the bonus point. Johan Goosen kicked two of the conversions while Chris Smith slotted the final one.

The Sharks managed two tries in their final game of the season through Siya Masuku and Dylan Richardson, with the fly-half kicking both the conversions.

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It was the Sharks who started the game well as they looked to bring the momentum from their Challenge Cup triumph. The hosts were rewarded for this dominance as Masuku crossed for a try in the 15th minute which he converted.

The Bulls were not going to lie down and found themselves a foothold in the game and that was enough to get the brilliant Kriel over the line seven minutes later with Goosen missing the conversion. They would double down on this response with Grobbelaar’s try just before the half-hour mark with Goosen getting the kick on this occasion.

The scores would not change until after half-time when the rampant hooker Van der Merwe grabbed his first in the 56th minute not long after coming onto the field, with Goosen adding the extras again. This put the Bulls within striking distance of the all-important bonus point win which would secure a top two finish in the URC table.

However, the Sharks had other ideas with Richardson crossing with 12 minutes to go and Masuku’s conversion took the deficit to less than seven.

It was a nervous couple of minutes for the Bulls who were at risk of losing the game, that was until Van der Merwe scored his second with three minutes left thanks to a strong maul from the visitors. Smith added the conversion for good measure as the Bulls claimed the South African Shield.

The teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter (c), 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khwezi Mona, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Diego Appollis

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Sebastian de Klerk

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadzweni (SARU), Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

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