The Blue Bulls under-21 team scored a close 24-23 win over their Sharks counterparts in Pretoria on Friday.

The home side had led 7-6 at the break and scored four tries on way to an important win for the defending Absa under-21 provincial championship winners of 2014.

Ganfried May opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a try and Joshua Stander converted the fullback’s five pointer to put his side 7-0 up. The Sharks clawed their way back into the match with two penalties by Rowan Gouws bringing them within one point of the home side at the break.

A try just after the restart by prop Dayan van der Westhuizen extended the Blue Bulls lead to 12-6, but a converted try by Rowan Gouws saw the Durban side take in the 13-12 lead in the 47th minute.

A yellow card to the visiting prop Barend Potgieter in the 52nd minute cost the Sharks as Marquit September scored to regain the lead (17-13). The Sharks scored just after his return through Dan du Preez. Gouws converted for a 23-17 lead with 20 minutes to play.

The Blue Bulls kept plugging away and when Marius Louw, Sharks prop, was shown a red in the 79th minute, they pounced. Van der Westhuizen scored his second and Kobus Marais converted with the winning kick from the touchline.

* In the Absa under-19 provincial championships, the Blue Bulls scored five tries against three to beat the young Sharks 39-21.