Jordan Hendrikse scored a strive on the loss of life whereas Siya Masuku kicked 14 factors because the Sharks XV overturned a first-half deficit to beat the Vodacom Bulls in a moist Durban on Sunday.
Trailing 8-7 at half time, fullback Hendrikse barged over in the fitting nook earlier than Masuku notched his fourth penalty earlier than the ultimate hooter to safe a 24-18 victory for the Sharks within the last match of the common 2024 Currie Cup season at Kings Park.
Each groups had already booked their place within the semi-finals of this 12 months’s version of rugby’s oldest competitors, and can renew hostilities in Pretoria subsequent Saturday to determine which staff faces the winners between the Lions and Cheetahs within the showpiece on 21 September.
With one eye on subsequent week’s playoffs whereas prepping for the 2024-25 Vodacom URC, head coaches Phiwe Nomlomo and John Plumtree on Sunday each fielded formidable lineups bolstered by the likes of two-time Springbok world champions Makazole Mapimpi and Trevor Nyakane, together with seasoned campaigners Marcell Coetzee and Wilco Louw.
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Sharks boss Plumtree, although, can be sweating the provision of Bok powerhouse Ruan Dreyer and outdoors centre Jurienzo Julius, as will Nomlomo over veteran Bulls fullback Devon Williams, who regarded to have pulled a hamstring and was helped from the sphere, and centre Harold Vorster following a head knock.
A primary-half strive from hooker Akker van der Merwe and three factors from the boot of flyhalf Jaco van der Walt powered the guests in entrance, however a transformed Dylan Richardson landing saved the hosts inside touching distance on the break.
Nevertheless, the Sharks may have kicked themselves for failing to capitalise on a two-man numerical benefit within the closing phases of the second quarter after Bulls midfielders David Kriel and Vorster each earned 10 minutes on the naughty chair – Kriel for repeat staff infringements whereas Vorster noticed yellow for a head-on-head collision with Julius.
Two well-struck Masuku penalties both facet of a Van der Walt strike earned the house facet the lead after the restart, earlier than the Highvelders regained their benefit courtesy of a powerful end within the endzone by scrumhalf Embrose Papier.
Van der Walt added the extras, however the former Scotland playmaker missed a comparatively simple effort from the kicking tee to place the Bulls eight factors in entrance because the match entered the ultimate quarter-hour.
Masuku made no mistake from in entrance of the sticks to shut the hole on the scoreboard to 2 factors, earlier than including the ending touches to a hard-fought comeback following Hendrikse’s five-pointer.
Photograph: Steve Haag Sports activities/Gallo Photos
