Bulls have semi-final hopes

2006-04-29 22:48

Cape Town - The Bulls have kept their hopes of qualifying for the Super 14 semi-finals alive, with a 34-27 victory against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The Bulls scored five tries to four, claiming a bonus point to entrench themselves in fifth place.

They are now four points adrift of the fourth-placed ACT Brumbies, with two rounds remaining.

The Bulls settled the game in the first half. They scored four tries to lead 27-3.

Their authority was stamped in the third minute, when hooker Gary Botha scored the opening try from a close range tap penalty.

Centre JP Nel had an untouched run to the line from 10m after a clever pass from his partner Wynand Olivier.

Lock Bakkies Botha scored twice in the space of seven minutes.

The Sharks hit back with four tries in the second half, but were left with too much to do when the Bulls claimed their fifth through Nel.

The Sharks began the fight back just short of the hour, with two tries in as many minutes - through fullback Percy Montgomery and then centre Andries Strauss straight from the restart.

Lock Albert van den Berg scored the Sharks' third from a driven lineout.

Number eight AJ Venter burst through the centre of a ruck to ensure the Sharks' second bonus point.

Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn was yellow-carded for a stiff arm tackle on Montgomery with three minutes remaining but the Bulls weathered the storm.

- Reuters