Staff Reporter.
The Vodacom Bulls continued the steady repair process to their overall season with a vital 24-20 Currie Cup victory over the Sharks at Kings Park on Friday afternoon.
After starting the domestic competition with three successive losses, the Bulls made a well-publicised shake-up to the coaching staff last week, and a shift in emphasis on the Currie Cup setup has seen a turnaround in fortunes.
Friday’s victory away from home will be particularly pleasing to Bulls boss Jake White, who watched on from the stands as the visitors ultimately outclassed a fourth-placed Sharks side that has battled with inconsistency this season.
Both teams came into this clash on the back of important wins, with the Sharks having claimed a crucial win over the defending champion Pumas, while the Bulls recorded a comprehensive 40-3 victory over Griquas.
That result for the Bulls represented their first win in the competition, and lifted them off the foot of the table. Although several players returned to the URC squad, there was a clear boost in confidence that filtered into the Currie Cup team that turned up in Durban on Friday.
With Springbok veteran Morne Steyn pulling the strings at flyhalf, the Bulls certainly looked the more composed side in a first half where they were able to rack up a commanding 19-3 lead.
Novuka Hat-Trick
The opening try came the way of the visitors rather fortuitously as the ball went loose following a swirling up-and-under from Steyn, with wing Sibongile Novuka ultimately finishing off the movement.
From there, the Bulls settled into their stride as Jan-Hendrik Wessels powered over the try line after a successful maul from inside the hosts 22m line.
Late in the half, matters went from bad to worse for the Sharks as James Venter was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle, and in his absence Novuka finished off one of the tries of the season after a sequence of silky interplay.
To the Sharks’ credit, they started the second half with a real determination and in fact reduced the lead to just six points after a converted try to Phikolomzi Sobahle, and a penalty to Zeilinga, saw the hosts score 10 unanswered points.
Yet, as the stadium clock ticked towards the hour mark, Novuka was put away in the corner to score his hat-trick try, and from there the Bulls did well to hang on after the Sharks threatened a late fightback following a try to Zee Mkhabela.
SCORERS
Sharks – Tries: Phikolomzi Sobahle, Zee Mkhabela. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga, Lionel Cronje. Penalties: Zeilinga (2).
Blue Bulls – Tries: Sibongile Novuka (3), Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Conversion: Morne Steyn (2).