Sharks edge Bulls in thriller

2008-09-06 18:55

Durban - A magnificent solo try by Keegan Daniel has helped the Sharks to a thrilling 34-25 win over the Blue Bulls in Durban on Saturday night.

It was a slightly scrappy start to this crucial top-of-the table clash and eventually it was the Sharks who were left to rue a slow start as they conceded a soft try early on.

Bulls centre Wynand Olivier made the initial break and passed to fellow centre Marius Delport who went over under the posts.

Flyhalf Morne Steyn added the extra two and it was 7-0 to the visitors.

However, the Sharks were unfazed and it wasn't long before they levelled things at 7-7 after wing Odwa Ndungane scored a great try in the right-hand corner.

The second quarter saw both sides battle bravely as they tried to assert their ascendancy, but it was abundantly clear that they were two very evenly matched teams and, in the end, Sharks scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar slotted one penalty to score the only points in the remainder of the half.

The Sharks went into the break with a tenuous 10-7 lead but in the second half they quickly extended it to 17-7 after replacement JP Pietersen scored a majestic try.

The Bulls fought back magnificently though and two quick tries to lock Victor Matfield and then Olivier made it 17-17 with 20 minutes to play.

A few minutes later and suddenly the Bulls were the ones with a 25-17 advantage after Steyn slotted another penalty and Olivier crossed for his try.

The Sharks though hit back superbly with a try from stand-out performer fullback Stefan Terblanche. The try and conversion by Pienaar made it 25-24 to the Bulls with just under 15 minutes left on the clock.

Pienaar then slotted another great penalty to make it 27-25.

No 8 Keegan Daniel then scored a magnificent individual try to make it 34-25 and that was all she wrote.

The Sharks picked up a full-house of five points for their efforts. The Bulls left with a solitary point after scoring four tries.

Thanks to their victory the Sharks have moved to the top of the standings, three points ahead of the Bulls with the Cheetahs a further three points behind in third. The Lions currently occupy the fourth and final semi-final spot.

Scorers:

Sharks:

Tries: Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Stefan Terblanche, Keegan Daniel
Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (4)
Penalties: Pienaar (2)

Bulls:

Tries: Marius Delport, Victor Matfield, Wynand Olivier (2)
Conversion: Morne Steyn
Penalty: Steyn

- SuperSport