Playing with one man less for almost 70 minutes, the hosts were always going to be up against it and they deserve credit for never giving up, but the Durbanites were full value for the win, making the most of their opportunities to score four tries at Loftus Versfeld even though the men in blue dominated territory and possession.

The crucial moment happened in the 11^th minute, when Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn was ordered off the field with a red card for a needless tackle that was high and late on Cell C Sharks captain Lukhanyo Am.

It not only reduced the hosts to 14 men, but also robbed them of valuable momentum, and when Henco Venter (flanker) stormed over from the resultant lineout, the visitors had a lead that looked unlikely minute earlier.

The Vodacom Bulls were their own worst enemies, often losing the ball in contact when hot on the attack and making other unforced errors, while the Cell C Sharks, who defended very well throughout the game, waited patiently and used their opportunities.

Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) added his name to the score sheet in the 28^th minute with his team’s second try, also from an attacking lineout, putting his side up by 14-0.

The hosts fought back bravely and were finally rewarded for their resilience when Cornal Hendricks (right wing) went over in the right-hand corner, but their joy was short-lived as Am, who was in sublime form, regathered the next restart, grubbered ahead and fell on the ball – after the buzzer had sounded – to restore his team’s 14-point lead at the break.

The Vodacom Bulls reduced the deficit early in the second half when their hardworking captain, Marcell Coetzee, scored a power-try, but 15 minutes later, the Cell C Sharks’ lead was back at 14 points when Springbok speedster Makazole Mapimpi scored the easiest of tries from an attacking scrum, which came from yet another mistake by the hosts.

Still the men from Pretoria were not out of it and they kept hammering away, especially after Grant Williams (scrumhalf) was red carded for the visitors for a dangerous tackle on Chris Smith (flyhalf), who had to leave the field on a stretcher.

With playing numbers even, Simphiwe Matanzima (replacement prop) and Madosh Tambwe (left wing) finally found holes in the visitors’ defence, but with no recognised kicker on the field, David Kriel had to take the conversions, and unfortunately he failed to land either.

In the end, Cell C Sharks’ resolute defence held firm enough, and ensured the Durbanites will return home with a full house of five well-deserved log points, while the Vodacom Bulls managed to grab two late bonus-points.

Scorers:

Vodacom Bulls 22 (5) – Tries: Cornal Hendricks, Marcell Coetzee, Simphiwe Matanzima, Madosh Tambwe. Conversion: Chris Smith.

Cell C Sharks 29 (19) – Tries: Henco Venter, Bongi Mbonambi, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi. Conversions: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla (2), Curwin Bosch. Penalty goal: Bosch.