Smith drop goal sinks Sharks in Loftus thriller

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It was heartbreak for the Sharks on Saturday afternoon in Pretoria after a Chris Smith drop goal in added time booked the Vodacom Bulls a spot in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship semi-finals.

The game evenly poised at 27-27 after regulation time, Smith slotted the match-winning kick for the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld to set up a last-four showdown next week against the winners of the quarter-finals clash between Leinster and Glasgow Warriors in Dublin.

Smith also struck three conversions and two penalties for a personal 15-point haul in the Highveld thriller, with the Bulls and the Sharks each scoring three tries.

The first half in Pretoria ended deadlocked at 13-13, Sharks No 10 Curwin Bosch having opened the scoring from the kicking tee before the Bulls replied with a breakout try against the run of play, with left wing Madosh Tambwe finishing off a sharp intercept and clever grubber kick from fullback Canan Moodie. Smith added the extras.

But, the Durbanites hit back swiftly, Bongi Mbonambi barging over for his seventh touchdown of the season, before Smith levelled the score from in front of the sticks.

Smith nailed his second penalty of the half to give the home side the lead for the first time in the match, only for Bosch to restore parity on the brink of half time.

The Bulls struck first after the break, skipper Marcell Coetzee soaring over the whitewash following a sustained period of pressure, and Smith successfully converted.

Coetzee then turned provider with a lovely offload to set up Cornal Hendricks, who dotted down under the posts for the hosts’ third try. Smith was on song with the boot to stretch the home side’s advantage to 14 points.

Jaden Hendrikse sniped off the base of the ruck for the Sharks’ first score of the second half, allowing Bosch to close the gap on the scoreboard to one converted try.

The visitors dominated the final quarter and were duly rewarded when Sikhumbuzo Notshe crossed in the left corner with five minutes left on the clock, and Bosch coolly converted from out wide to lay the table for an extra-time period.

But the Bulls won a penalty and then a red-zone lineout and Smith dropped into the pocket to sink the Sharks with the game-winning drop goal.

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Devin Hermanus