This was a rip-roaring affair in which fortunes fluctuated wildly until the Bulls took the game by the scruff in the final quarter.
They stood up to the rejuvenated Sharks, and though they didn't replicate their performance of last month in Durban, they kept the visitors at arm's length on Saturday.
Though the Bulls were physically up for the challenge, their tactical nous helped set them apart. They found space by applying the grubber to get behind the Sharks' defence, but it was their exploitation of the cross-kick towards Makazole Mapimpi that earned significant gains.
The Bulls' confidence on the ball and greater appreciation of space meant the Sharks were always at a disadvantage in unstructured play. Functioning set pieces are also hugely reassuring.
It was a helter-skelter first half with the Bulls landing more telling blows, but the Sharks counterpunched well in the last quarter to stay within touching distance.Though the Bulls didn't shirk their responsibilities at close quarters, they were again adept at finding space in congested areas. Snyman, Adriaan Strauss and Roelof Smit probed those areas.
Lood de Jager, Marco van Staden and RG Snyman rather relished the confrontation of the visitors' combative pack.
At the back the restoration of Jesse Kriel's reputation continued, but it was Warrick Gelant who continued to torment the Sharks. He scored three tries in the wet.
The Sharks have been barely recognisable since the Bulls humbled them in Durban last month, and that hardened resolve showed when they were knocked onto the back foot.
They applied the sledgehammer after the break as they bashed away at the Bulls' nearest defenders. Thomas du Toit, Akker van der Merwe and Jean-Luc du Preez grew more determined in their stride.
The Sharks eked out the metres and that territorial ascendancy was paying off, albeit with the help of the errant hosts.The Bulls, arguably the fittest team in their conference, upped the ante.
Earlier though, ill-discipline played its part. With the Bulls surging upfield Curwin Bosch stuck out his right leg to trip up the racing Gelant. The onfield officials missed the indiscretion, which alarmed the home crowd, after the Sharks turned over possession to surge upfield to "score". Bosch happened to be the recipient of the final pass but upon visual review of the evidence the miscreant was duly fingered and sent to the bin.
It proved costly as the Bulls scored off the resultant penalty when justice was served in the form of a Gelant touchdown.
Crucial too was the sanction handed to RG Snyman after a late charge on Cameron Wright. Shoulder charges aren't by definition innocuous but this one came close.SCORE:
BULLS (22) 39
SHARKS (17) 33
Scorers: Tries: Warrick Gelant, Jesse Kriel, Roelof Smit, Johnny Kotze, Lood de Jager. Conversions: Handre Pollard (4). Penalties: Pollard (2).
Tries: Curwin Bosch, Jacques Vermeulen, Jean-Luc du Preez. Conversions: Robert du Preez (3). Penalties: Robert du Preez (3), Bosch...