The Hollywoodbets Sharks were unable to follow up the highs gained in last week’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship when they went down 44-10 to the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday afternoon at Loftus in Pretoria.
Round seven was an early afternoon match played in perfect, if hot conditions, with the temperatures in the mid 30s, making ball-handling difficult, but still produced a match of massive proportions.
It was the first local derby for the Hollywoodbets Sharks this season but they will rue missed opportunities, having dominated possession and territory in the second half, but could not complete.
It was an excellent start from the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Jaden Hendrikse showing his class with a chip and chase and regather that put his team on the front foot. The attack took them close before the home side conceded a penalty which Curwin Bosch had no trouble converting for a three-nil lead inside the opening two minutes.
After 10 minutes, both sides had enjoyed some decisive rugby on attack but it was the home side who scored next, a long range penalty levelling matters.
A few minutes later, the Bulls struck a big blow, scoring the first try of the game off a scrum, the ball sent wide and down the touchline to push them into the lead for the first time in the match, the conversion taking them 10-3 ahead after 15 minutes.
After another water break at the quarter, the Bulls kicked a penalty to touch and after mauling the lineout, scored. The ball was dislodged in the tackle but the TMO ruled there was no clear separation and the try stood for a 17-3 lead after 23 minutes.
10 minutes later the Bulls were back on the scoreboard, again the lineout proving the ideal platform to score, the ball eventually finding its way out wide, pushing them 22-3 ahead.
The bonus point came on the stroke of half-time, another penalty kicked to touch and the maul effective enough for the try in the corner. The touchline conversion attempt was well wide but they had done enough to go into the break with a commanding 27-3 lead.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks came out into the second half with determination and were rewarded with a long period of attack that eventually culminated in a penalty try with the Bulls losing a man to the sin bin for cynically collapsing the maul just short of the tryline to cut the lead to 17 points.
Having been forced to defend for the entire third quarter, the Bulls went over for their fifth try following patience on attack, the conversion pushing them into a 34-10 lead with the final quarter hour remaining, and then stretching their advantage to 27 points with a 55m effort after the Hollywoodbets Sharks were penalised on attack.
With nine minutes remaining, the Bulls latched onto possession, turning defence into attack after the
Hollywoodbets Sharks had won a lineout steal and went further ahead.
The game ended with the Hollywoodbets Sharks pushing hard for a final score, but being denied by the home side.