Brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse combined for 13 points as the Sharks ousted the Bulls at Kings Park on Saturday.
Jaden dotted for the hosts and Jordan added eight from the tee for a penalty kick. The Sharks won 20-17, giving URC its fourth win in a row and its fifth win of the season and first over the Bulls in nearly two years. years.
The Sharks were stopped before the first whistle when captain Siya Kolisi (calf), hooker Dylan Richardson and lock Emile van Heerden (both ill) withdrew pre-match. Richardson’s replacement, Ethan Bester, was escorted off the field in the 17th minute after appearing to suffer a concussion following a tackle on Bulls flanker Cam Hanekom.
READ: Is Kolisi back at the Stormers?
Captain’s Coin Toss on Shark Tank 🪙
Ellie Rowe 🤝 Andre Esterhuizen
There is no sign of Siya Kolisi, who was scheduled to lead the team from an 8 o’clock start today. #VURC Derby. pic.twitter.com/PrFVSxWm4v
— Supersport Rugby (@SSRugby) December 21, 2024
Hendrikses didn’t seem to notice, and the Sharks led 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. Jordan took the penalty and then converted Jaden’s try. But the Bulls responded with tries from Cobus Wiese and Harold Vorster, converted by Johan Goosen, to take a 14-10 lead at the break.
Goosen added another penalty before winger Sebastian de Klerk was shown a questionable yellow card and the Sharks were awarded a penalty to level the score at 17-17.
Jordan Hendrikse closed the third quarter with three more points with a boot and the Bulls had a chance to return the favor in the dying minutes. Instead they opted for an aggressive lineout to win the game. It was a decision they would come to regret, as the knock gave the Sharks a scrum feed and Jaden punched in just over for the win.
The Sharks next travel to Cape Town to take on the Stormers, while the Bulls have completed their 2024 schedule and will resume their duties on January 11 to face Castres in the Champions Cup.
