Bulls ease past Sharks to clinch place in Pro14 Rainbow Cup final

The Bulls put in an efficient display to see off the Sharks 34-22 and finish the Pro14 Rainbow Cup SA on top of the standings.

As a result, the Bulls will trek to Treviso next week, to face Benetton in the North vs South final.

The Bulls have been consistently the best side in the Pro14 Rainbow Cup SA and their only blemish was the defeat to the Lions in the fourth round.

Sharks 22-34 Bulls: Match report

The contest was close in the first half with Morne Steyn’s boot putting the Bulls on the board early.

JJ van der Mescht powered over for the Sharks to give the hosts the edge on 24 minutes, however the Bulls came charging back another Steyn penalty goal and a converted try by Cornal Hendricks allowed them to take charge of the game.

Curwin Bosch narrowed the gap with a penalty of his own, but the Sharks trailed 10-14 at the half-time whistle.

Half-time

The Bulls crossed the whitewash early in the second half to leave the Sharks with a mountain to climb to win the match and qualify for the final.

In the end, second-half tries from David Kriel, Stravino Jacobs and Janko Swanepoel ensured that the Bulls claimed a bonus-point win in the final round of action. 

Siya Kolisi and Anthony Volmink scored for the Sharks, but much of the home side’s verve and vigour had left them in the final 20 minutes, and the Bulls cruised to victory.

Sharks vs Bulls – teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Anthony Volmink, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Khwezi Mona.

Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 James Venter, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Jeremy Ward.

Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 7 Ruan Nortje, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. 

Replacements – from: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Muller Uys, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Clinton Swart, 23 Gio Aplon, 24 Robert Hunt, 25 Jan Uys, 26 Dawid Kellerman, 27 Richard Kriel.