Bulls fight back for tight win as Sharks hug bottom spot

Bulls 23 Sharks 17


The Bulls came from 17-10 down at halftime to beat the Sharks and keep alive their semifinal hopes.

The Sharks attacked relentlessly in the first half, scoring twice to lead at the break, but their chance of recording only their second win of the season disappeared in the Durban heat as the Bulls rallied.

Knowing defeat would end any hope of a semifinal berth, the Bulls forwards raised their game in the second half and the visitors sealed their sixth win in 10 matches with late tries by lock Victor Matfield and centre Ettienne Botha.

The home side, bottom-placed in the competition, started well with first five-eighths Butch James kicking a ninth-minute penalty and fullback Brent Russell stretching the lead to 8-0 when he began and ended a move that began deep inside Sharks territory in yesterday's clash.

The Bulls' first try came on the half-hour when wing Bryan Habana's chip and chase had the beating of his opposite number Cedric Mkhize, who cynically tackled his opponent without the ball.

Referee Shaun Veldsman immediately awarded the Bulls a penalty try, which first five-eighths Morne Steyn converted to level the scores at 10-10.

But three minutes later, the Bulls were slow in getting back to cover a penalty kick and centre Botha, on his own in defence, failed to gather the bouncing ball.

Sharks lock Albert van den Berg took advantage, gathering the ball and charging over the line to score. James converted to put the Sharks 17-10 up at the break.

A Steyn penalty in the 42nd minute triggered the Bulls fightback.

Their second try of the match came in the 61st minute via a charged down kick that squirted past referee Veldsman into the hands of Bulls centre JP Nel, who put lock Matfield through to score.

Centre Botha crossed the line in the 78th minute for the final try.

* The Stormers came from behind with three second-half tries to beat the Cats 25-20.

Victory lifted the Stormers above Australia's Queensland Reds into ninth place in the standings, ensuring South African teams do not occupy the bottom three spots going into the final weekend.

The Cats opened the scoring in the 21st minute when centre Jaque Fourie crossed the line. They extended their lead to 13-0 by the break after a drop goal and penalty by fullback Andre Pretorius.

But the hosts rallied with tries from prop Eddie Andrews, wing Gus Theron and centre Jean de Villiers.

Three consecutive home defeats in the last month ended the Stormers' slim aspirations of reaching the semifinals, and the Cats remain winless since the opening weekend of the competition, when they beat the Bulls.

Stormers fullback Breyton Paulse, who has signed for French club Clermont Ferrand, received a standing ovation before and after his final game at Newlands from a crowd of 25,000 in appreciation of his nine years of service.

- REUTERS