Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Video - Pollard sinks Sharks in the 79th

Handre Pollard struck a last-minute penalty as the Bulls returned to winning ways with a narrow 19-16 victory away over the Sharks at King’s Park in Super Rugby.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was a scrappy victory on Saturday but an important boost as the Bulls were hammered at home by Waikato Chiefs just seven days earlier but have now climbed above the Sharks in the standings, albeit by a single point.

All the tries came in the second half as Daniel du Preez and Andre Esterhuizen scored for the home team and Jesse Kriel went over for the Bulls.

But the boot of Bulls captain Pollard proved the difference as he kicked four penalties and a conversion while Robert du Preez slotted two penalties for the Sharks.

The tempestuous clash saw rival hookers Schalk Brits and Akker van der Merwe red carded after throwing punches at each other in the maul and an ensuing grappling contest between the two. Both face suspension for coming games.

The game laboured through the first half, as both teams struggled in the humidity, and delivered just nine points. The Sharks should have been ahead but had an early score annulled by a controversial TV match official decision.

Pollard misjudged the bounce of the ball as he was chasing back to cover a kick heading to touch in the eighth minute.

ADVERTISEMENT

But instead of going out, the ball bounced in-field to allow Makazole Mapimpi to collect and feed Daniel du Preez to go over.

But referee Mike Fraser, after initially awarding the try, asked for confirmation that the ball had not gone out and despite replays proving far from clear, TMO Christie du Preez decided the ball had touched the line and no try was given.

It meant the spectators had to wait until 30 seconds into the second half for the first try as Du Preez went over when the Sharks took advantage of a Bulls error. The visitors snatched back the lead as centre Burger Odendaal burst through two tackles to set up Kriel in the 52nd minute.

A Pollard penalty had the Bulls 16-11 up with 10 minutes left but Esterhuizen’s try in the corner brought it back to 16-16 with Robert Du Preez’s conversion from a tight angle just fading off target.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Bulls won a scrumming penalty with a minute remaining to allow Pollard to deliver the winning kick.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 27 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
Search