Sharks end Bulls' hopes
Defending champions the Bulls were knocked out of this year¿s Super 15 title race by the Sharks on Saturday.
Last Updated: 18/06/11 7:26pm
Defending champions the Bulls were knocked out of this year's Super 15 title race on Saturday when the Sharks scored a 26-23 win in the final round of the regular season.
Winger Lwazi Mvovo touched down what proved to be the match-winning try in the 74th minute at Loftus Versfeld, despite a late score from Bulls scrum-half Francois Hougaard.
It was not enough, though, and the Durban-based side were able to cling on and claim the final place in the play-offs.
The Sharks' win was their first in Pretoria since 2008 and spoiled what is likely to be the last game for Bulls stalwarts Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Fourie du Preez.
Furthermore, the home side's six-match winning streak was broken and the result also means that the Bulls will miss out on Super Rugby's knockout stages for only the second time since 2004.
Pulsating
In a pulsating match, the Bulls clawed back a 10-point deficit to level the score at 16-16 with half an hour to go.
However, Mvovo's try, which came after an offload from Patrick Lambie created space, gave the Sharks crucial momentum.
Their captain, Stefan Terblanche, scored his first try of the season in the 36th minute, but Bulls wing Gerhard van den Heever slid over in first-half injury time to cut the Sharks' early lead to 16-13 at the break.
Lambie and former France international Frederic Michalak combined for two conversions and three penalties for the Sharks, while Bulls fly-half Morne Steyn kicked 13 points.
Michalak - who started the crucial game at No. 10 just two weeks after joining the Sharks from France - also kicked a drop goal in the ninth minute which eventually proved the difference.
