Bulls dig in to pull off a draw with Sharks

BULLS (9) 17

SHARKS (14) 17

Pretoria fans must have known something on Saturday when they came out in their numbers for the pulsating Bankfin Currie Cup clash which left Section A tantalisingly poised with a three-way tie at the top.

A crowd of 41 051 flocked to the Bullring to witness a ferocious comeback from the home team, although the Sharks deserve equally as many plaudits for the manner in which they stuck to their task.

More of this passionate rugby, in which both sides waded into each other with everything they had - and more - and the crowds will surely return.

There were no surprises when the Sharks came onto the field with a lineup showing three changes from that which had been announced.

Justin Swart moved from the left wing to left wing, taking over from Ricardo Loubscher, who had not run all week because of a calf muscle. Swart's place in the No 11 jersey went to Andre Snyman.

The other change was in the pack, where AJ Venter was deployed ahead of Brad Macleod-Henderson on the flank.

You wouldn't have thought the Sharks had such a poor record at Loftus in the last decade the way they came out full of agression.

However, this was one game where points were always likely to be difficult to come by, especially early on. Despite dominating up-front, where they often rocked the Bulls back in their traditional strong point of the set scrums, the visitors found their way to the tryline held up by fierce tackling around the fringes.

Not that they didn't enjoy their chances. Following a slick lineout variation, which saw John Smit throw short to AJ Venter before the ball was transferred back to the hooker, there was still no way through.

No 8 Shaun Sowerby, in much better shape than last weekend, also came close from a five-metre scrum only to lose the ball in the tackle as he was closing in on the line.

The Bulls were always dangerous and, when in possession, it required stout defence to keep them out. The Sharks also enjoyed the better of some dubious officiating, most notably from touch judge Schalk Hugo. He missed a head high challenge from Stefan Terblanche on Jaco van der Westhuyzen. Later in the half, he also missed a palpably late challenge from Dries Scholtz on Terblanche which referee Andre Watson ended up having to call.

It took 20 minutes for the first points to come. Minutes after Warren Britz had won the race to his own chargedown of a clearance from the Bulls flyhalf - only for it to have crossed the deadball line - the Sharks pack rolled towards the tryline from the five minute scrum. Then Van der Westhuyzen, Jaco not Joost, intervened before the ball had emerged from the scrum and Watson duly awarded a penalty try. Butch James increased the lead to seven points with the conversion from in front of the posts.

Van der Westhuyzen reduced matters to 7-3 five minutes later after a Natal infringement at the breakdown.

The pressure on the Bulls intensified when Watson dished out a yellow card to to Scholtz for the late tackle on Terblanche. Down to 14 men it seemed only a matter of time before the Sharks made the extra man count. They certainly launched assault after assault on the Bulls line. Sowerby lost the ball crossing the line and Smit lost the ball forward five metres from the line and Terblanche, with Mark Andrews outside him, chose to cut back inside and was engulfed by a wave of defenders.

Eventually they broke through when, for once, the Sharks backs got some quality ball in midfield. Deon Kayser drew three men and fed Terblanche, who passed to Swart down the touchline and then collected his inside pass. James slotted the conversion to put the Sharks into a comfortable 14-3 lead only for Van der Westhuyzen to reduce the gap to three points at the halftime whistle.

That late second-half surge gave the Bulls renewed hope and they came out like some of their predecessors from yesteryear. But, with the Sharks resolute defence holding firm, and Van der Westhuyzen's boot going walkabout, it took a Butch James penalty to give the Sharks some breathing space at 17-9.

However, the Bulls refused to give up, pouring on the pressure and they gained a well-deserved try from Dries Scholtz 13 minutes from time. Van der Westhuyzen's conversion attempt went narrowly wide to leave the Sharks hanging on but he landed a pressure kick with five minutes remaining to level the scores.

SCORERS

BULLS - Tries: Dries Scholtz. Penalties: Jaco van der Westhuyzen (4).

SHARKS - Tries: Penalty try, Stefan Terblanche. Conversions: Butch James (2). Penalty: James.