DURBAN, South Africa, 8 May 2005 — Northern Bulls climbed two places to fourth in the Super 12 standings after edging Coastal Sharks 23-17 in a scrappy all-South Africa clash yesterday.
And if Bulls triumph at home to compatriots Western Stormers next Saturday they will clinch only a second appearance in the semifinals of the Southern Hemisphere inter-provincial championship.
The previous occasion was nine years ago in the first edition of a competition expanded from 10 teams and Bulls have often battled since, finishing last three times and second from bottom twice. Better placed New Zealand teams Otago Highlanders and Auckland Blues failed to secure any points this weekend, opening the door for a Bulls side that came back strongly after trailing 17-10 at half-time.
New South Wales Waratahs of Australia and Canterbury Crusaderes and Wellington Hurricanes of New Zealand have secured semifinals places, leaving Bulls (29 points), Highlanders (27), Blues (26) and Brumbies of Australia (24) to fight for the final slot.
Bulls were lucky to be only seven points behind after a woeful first-half showing by a massive pack that laid the foundations for four consecutive home victories ahead of the visit to the Indian Ocean city.
The Pretoria-based team also helped Sharks by repeatedly failing to find touch and presenting fullback Brent Russell with several opportunities to display his deadly counterattacking skills. Pocket rocket Russell started, continued and finished the move that brought the first try for bottom-of-the-table Sharks, whose sole success in 10 matches came, ironically, against defending champions Brumbies in mid-season. A cruel bounce played a major role in Sharks other try with the ball eluding centre Ettienne Botha and wing Akona Ndungane and lock Albert van den Berg could hardly believe his luck as he sauntered over.
