Carling Currie Cup Match Report: Vodacom Blue Bulls Overpower Cell C Sharks at Soaked Loftus Versfeld

• A spirited second-half performance saw the Vodacom Bulls end the Cell C Sharks unbeaten run in the Carling Currie Cup with a 35-21 victory at a wet Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday night
• After a first half where things really didn't go their way and where they were 18-14 behind at the break, the Bulls put the hammer down in the second half to ensure the result was never in doubt
• A strong performance by the likes of Elrigh Louw, Lionel Mapoe and Keagan Johannes was essential in the second half for the home side

The Vodacom Blue Bulls managed proceedings perfectly in poor weather to defeat the Cell C Sharks in the Carling Currie Cup on Wednesday night.

Taking place at a sopping wet Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls had to dig deep to defeat the Sharks 35-21 and solidify their semifinal claims.

According to SuperSport, the Bulls' power up front was too much for the Sharks as their lineout disintegrated in the latter part of the match and the Bulls stole too much attacking ball for them to put up a proper fight.

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Add to that the fact they weren’t able to use the aerial bombardment with the same effectiveness as they did in the wet conditions in the first half, and they were always going to be up against it away from home.

For the Bulls, loading their team with URC stars paid off as it moved them into second place on the log and continued their quest for a third consecutive Currie Cup title.

But in the first half the Sharks used the conditions well and rode their luck as they survived giving away points when down to 13 men and looked the better of the two sides for the first 40.

They scored early on when they caught the Bulls defence napping after only two minutes, as midfielder Murray Koster got his name on the scoresheet.

The Bulls hit back through a beauty of a try to Madosh Tambwe, courtesy of the perfect grubber through by Harold Vorster to level up the scores.

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But then indiscipline hit the Sharks and they lost Mpilo Gumede to a yellow card for diving on a player after the whistle. Within a minute they lost Hyron Andrews to another yellow which resulted in a penalty try for collapsing the maul on the way to the tryline.

The Sharks' luck got better as they then got into an attacking position courtesy of a drop goal attempt that was touched and watched as Cameron Wright looked to have obstructed the defence as Marnus Potgieter scored in the corner.

While replays looked quite clear that the defender was impeded, the officials didn’t think it was serious enough and awarded the try.

It left the Sharks four points ahead at the break and confident going into the second half.

That confidence didn’t last though as Vorster broke through the line and handed the ball to Johannes who finished off the try in fine style to retake the lead.

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A penalty by Inny Radebe levelled matters again before the Bulls forwards took control and Arno Botha bashed his way over from close range for the try.

A late try by a bulldozing Louw made it certain and gave the Bulls a full house of points and something to smile about in the rain.