Missed chances see Sharks draw with Bulls
The Cell C Sharks missed a couple of try scoring opportunities as well as what would have been a match-winning kick in front of the posts which led to a 16-all draw with the Bulls on Friday night.
The Sharks had managed to draw back from a 13-3 deficit at half time. Springbok fullback Willie le Roux scored the Sharks' sole try of the evening in the second stanza as the Sharks managed to secure a three point lead.
The Bulls struck back with a penalty to level the scores close to full time. The game looked set to end in a draw before Sharks flank Marcell Coetzee managed to secure a penalty in front of the posts. The Sharks celebrated what seemed to be the match winning moment, but flyhalf Joe Pietersen botched the straightforward kick which saw the match end in a stalemate.
Despite Pietersen's failed kick, the Sharks could have scored two tries in the second half, but errors saw those chances unrewarded.
Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold remained optimistic after the match, although he was understandably disappointed that a fairly certain match-winning kick sailed wide. The Sharks boss hailed his side's temperament to stay in the fight in what is always a difficult task at Loftus.
"I'm not happy to come away with two points but I suppose the way you choose to view it is important. I thought we were poor in the first half. I feel our errors kept the Bulls in the game and they took their chances and got a 13-3 lead at half time," Gold said.
"I'm really happy that at half time the guys were committed to sticking in there and fighting to come back to get the lead. In that, two pretty favourable try opportunities unfortunately went a begging. Then to concede the lead and fight as hard as we did from the kick off and put them under pressure which led to Marcell's piece of magic was an opportunity to get us the win - but it wasn't to be."
Gold refused to put blame on Pietersen for missing the kick at the death and instead looked through a macro lens, highlighting his team's errors as a whole.
"I just think there are so many other things in the game that we could have controlled. If Joe had missed that kick in the third minute we wouldn't even be talking about. The issue is that there other crucial opportunities that we could have taken that could have afforded us a comfortable lead.
"Joe walked in and apologised and we moved on. The other thing you have to look at is that he kicked a penalty from the half way line - a fifty metre kick. It swings in roundabouts, that's how it goes. It's particularly unfair to worry about one incident.
The Sharks are still top of the South African group after the result. They return home to Growthpoint Kings Park to face the Crusaders on Easter Weekend.
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