Defending champions Natal Sharks start 2011 Currie Cup campaign with 19-point win against Bulls
The South Africa Rugby Union (SARU) provincial side and defending champions, Natal Sharks, have kicked off their 2011 Currie Cup with a bang as they defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their Currie Cup opener. Frederic Michalak’s 20 points in the game helped the Natal Sharks register their first win of the season. Sharks defeated Blue Bulls 35 – 16 at Kings Park Stadium, Durban on Saturday, July 16.
Sharks head coach John Plumtree has expressed his delight on securing a 19-point margin victory over the Bulls with his relatively young side.
The visitors started the match strongly and were first to put points on the board. Bulls’ fly half Francois Brummer scored a try in the fourth minute of the game to put the visitors in the lead. Sharks replied strongly with their newly signed fly half, Frederic Michalak, as he scored a try in the seventh minute of the game followed by his own conversion to take the scorecard reading 7 – 3 in favour of Sharks.
For Bulls, Brummer replied with his consecutive penalties in the 13th and 19th minute of the game to give visitors a two-point lead over the hosts.
Sharks retained the ball and territory possession as they slowly started to take control of the game. In the 25th minute of the match, Michalak scored his first penalty to put the hosts ahead. Minutes later, Sharks winger Louis Ludik scored the Sharks first try to take the score to 15 – 9 as the Sharks failed to score on the conversion.
Couple of minutes before the end of the first-half, Sharks flanker Marcell Coetzee scored the second try of the match for Sharks, which was followed by Michalak’s conversion to make the score 22 – 9 at the end of the first-half.
Bulls trailed by 13 points and started the second-half in an attacking mood but they failed to maintain their momentum throughout the second-half. Bulls’ flanker Derick Kuun scored the Bulls first try of the game in the 45th minute. Brummer followed with his conversion to take the scorebard to 22 – 16 in favour of Sharks.
However, Sharks retained the ball possession and started to take control of territory, which helped them dominate possession in the second-half of the game. Sharks newly appointed captain and their number eight, Keegan Daniel, scored Sharks bonus point try in the 50th minute of the game. Michalak followed with his conversion to make it 29 – 16.
In the remaining passage of the game, Sharks denied Bulls from scoring through their impressive ball handling and defensive skills. However, Sharks were able to add six points to their total courtesy of Michalak’s 63rd and 72nd minute penalties.
Frederic Michalak ended the game with 20 points, which includes a try, three penalties and three conversions.
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