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Bulls and Sharks chalk up victories in Super 12

The Bulls knocked down New South Wales 38-27 and the Sharks pipped Wellington 21-20 on Friday as South African teams continued to rise in rugby's Super 12.

The Bulls replaced the NSW Waratahs on top of the table after their bonus four-try victory at Loftus Versfeld. They have 18 points from five games, and the Waratahs 16. Both are a game up on the next two teams, the Stormers and ACT Brumbies, who meet in Cape Town on Saturday.

The Sharks, tied for fourth with ACT for now, give South Africa three teams in the top five.

The Bulls pack gave another powerful effort, but it was enhanced by a backline which was allowed to strut with ball and space. Center Ettienne Botha straightened their frequent attacks to help beat New South Wales for the first time since 1998.

The hosts punched ahead with a two-try blitz in two minutes after halftime, when Christo Bezuidenhout leapt high over a ruck to score, and then Eddie Fredericks latched onto a Frikkie Welsh grubber kick.

The Waratahs rallied to within four, but a bonus point was denied them in the last minute. They tried frantically to move the ball from the restart, turned it over, and Bulls replacement flanker Danie Rossouw crashed over for the bonus try.

"Their backs really took it to us," said Waratahs captain Chris Whittaker. "It was hard to defend all across the field all the time."

At the Bullring in New Plymouth, Sharks flyhalf Butch James kicked a 71st-minute penalty to help beat the Wellington Hurricanes 21-20.

James, with an 81 percent success rate this season, slotted three penalties and a conversion -- four goals from seven attempts -- to decide a seesawing match in which neither side led by more than five points.

The win was the second for the Sharks on a four-match swing through Australia and New Zealand, their third away from home this year.

They have now become strong candidates for a semifinals place with a bye next week and their last six matches on their home ground at Durban.
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