The Bulls needed a drop goal to extricate themselves from a determined Sharks side in the witching hours of a thrilling URC quarterfinal yesterday, earning themselves a place in the semifinals of the inaugural tournament
Playing in front of a 25 000-strong crowd at Loftus Versfeld – the biggest in the country since lockdown – the Bulls avenged their two earlier league defeats to the Durban franchise when it mattered most.
While the Bulls can look at a moment like Smith’s as a testament to their taking their chances, the Sharks will probably rue not being wasteful with theirs when they were on top. Yet Sean Everitt’s men were wasteful of the early momentum and territory they had fashioned, with a stray or forced pass here or a knock-on there blocking their path to the try line. Indeed, the first try of the match, by Bulls winger Madosh Tambwe, came from one such loose example.
Despite having all manner of bruisers in their ranks, the Bulls found it tough getting through the Sharks defence, who were quick off the line and looked for double hits.However, an assortment of chips, grubbers and high balls behind the rushing defence meant they not only got a foothold in the territory battle but also, consequently, parity on the scoreboard by half-time.
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