The Bulls retained their place among the top four on the Currie
Cup table, breaking a seven-match unbeaten run for the Sharks as
the hosts secured a 40-34 victory over the log leaders at Loftus
Versfeld on Saturday night.

   The Sharks, who remain seven points ahead of their nearest
challengers despite the loss, took the initiative with Lwazi Mvovo
going over on the right wing in the seventh minute for the first
try of the match.

   And while flyhalf Pat Lambie, who had fluffed a penalty kick two
minutes earlier, again missed with the conversion, he added three
points in the 10th minute to give the visitors a 10-0 lead.

   Two minutes later, however, Bulls centres Wynand Olivier and
Jaco Pretorius set up a try for the hosts, with Juandre Kruger
barging over and flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter adding the
conversion to narrow the gap.

   Lambie and Potgieter traded a penalty a piece before Sharks
captain Stefan Terblanche stormed over on the counter attack in the
18th minute to stretch the lead again for the visitors.

   Lambie converted, and added two more penalties before half-time,
with Potgieter securing three points in reply for the hosts as the
Sharks took a 24-13 lead into the half-time break.

   Potgieter had two penalty attempts after the break, and while he
converted with the first to close the gap slightly, he completely
bungled the second.

   Nonetheless, the Bulls took advantage of a disjointed Sharks
outfit, scoring 17 points within six minutes to gain the advantage.

   Scrum-half Ruan Snyman went over between the posts in the 56th
minute, and two minutes later Man-of-the-Match Jaco Engels found a
gap and steamrolled over Lambie to score as well.

   Potgieter converted both tries, and added another three points
for a penalty as the hosts took control, leaving the Sharks to play
catch-up.

   Lambie struck back a minute later with his fifth successful
penalty attempt of the game to bring the visitors within six points
at 33-27.

   But in the 69th minute Olivier intercepted and broke clear to
score the Bulls' bonus point try. Full-back Zane Kirchner made up
for a missed penalty from his team's own half two minutes earlier
to slot the conversion and stretch the gap further.

   The Sharks still had some fight left, however, and three minutes
later Alistair Hargreaves went over for the visitors, with Lambie
converting to bring them back within reach at 40-34.

   With five minutes left on the clock, Bulls substitute Dustin
Jinka missed a penalty, sending his attempt wide, but while the
visitors pushed forward in the dying stages, the hosts had done
enough to save their season campaign.

Scorers:

Bulls:
Tries: Juandre Kruger, Ruan Snyman, Jaco Engels,
Wynand Olivier.
Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3), Zane
Kirchner.
Penalties: Potgieter (4).

Sharks:
Tries: Lwazi Mvovo, Stefan Terblanche, Alistair
Hargreaves.
Conversions: Pat Lambie (2). Penalties: Pat Lambie (5).