The Sharks fought off a spirited display by the Bulls to win their Super 12 opener at Absa Stadium 30-17 on Friday night - their first win at home in seven tries.

In a match marred by off-the-ball niggles - five yellow and one red card being dished out - the hosts' held their cool to outscore the visitors by three tries to one, with young flyhalf Butch James also succeeding with six out of six attempts at goal.

As would be expected at the start of the season, both teams were guilty of uncharacteristic handling errors and often seemed bereft of ideas. But it was the off-the-ball incidents that were the main reason for the game not getting going.

Three yellows to the Bulls compared to the two of the Sharks plus Brent Moyle's ejection for headbutting - both teams will need to sharpen up their discipline if they are to seriously challenge for honours this season.

But the Sharks will be happy with the win, even if the failed to pick up the bonus point for four tries. They showed some promise among the backs and their solid pack will cause many a team problems during the competition.

For the Bulls, they showed improvement in their play, but most importantly, they looked hungry and full of pride. Coach Phil Pretorius stated at the start of the season that he wants to bring back the pride and passion that has been missing in recent years.

Some great individual performances by Man of the Match Charl van Rensburg, Butch James, John Smit and Deon Kayser for Natal, and captain Joost van der Westhuizen, Casper Steyn and Friedrich Lombaard for the Bulls, bodes well for both teams for the remainder of the season.

Scorers:

Sharks - Tries: Ricardo Loubscher, Deon Kayser, John Smit; Conversions: Butch James (3); Penalties: James (3).

Bulls - Try: Friedrich Lombaard; Penalties: Casper Steyn (4).

Yellow Cards: Ricardo Loubscher (39th), Boeta Wessels (43rd), Franco Smith (50th), Trevor Halstead (50th), Adrian Jacobs (70th).

Red Card: Brent Moyle (63rd).

Scoring sequence:

First half: 3-0 James penalty (6th minute); 6-0 James penalty (13th); 6-3 Steyn penalty (19th); 13-3 Loubscher try, James conversion (27th); 13-6 Steyn penalty (36th); 13-9 Steyn penalty (39th); 20-9 Kayser try, James conversion (42nd).

Second half: 20-12 Steyn penalty (2nd minute); 27-12 Smit try, James conversion (9th); 27-17 Lombaard try (17th); 30-17 James penalty (38th).

Teams:

Sharks: Ricardo Loubser; Stefan Terblanche, Deon Kayser, Trevor Halstead, Justin Swart; Butch James, Craig Davidson; Warren Brosnihan, Charl van Rensburg, AJ Venter, Mark Andrews (capt), Albert van den Berg, Brent Moyle, John Smit, Ollie le Roux. Substitutes: Lukas van Biljon, Etienne Fynn (Van Rensburg 65th), Philip Smit (Van den Berg 70th), Warren Britz, Hentie Martens (Davidson 83rd), Herkie Kruger, Gus Theron (Terblanche 68th).

Bulls: Casper Steyn; McNeil Hendricks, Danie van Schalkwyk, Franco Smith, Friedrich Lombaard; Boeta Wessels, Joost van der Westhuizen (capt); Anton Leonard, Johan Wassermann, Nicky van der Walt, Victor Matfield, Braam Els, Johan Human, Naka Drotske, Frikkie Bosman. Substitutes: Marius Goosen, Adrian Jacobs (Hendricks 40th), Hakkies Husselmann, Pierre Uys (Wasserman 55th), Ralf Schroeder (Els 65th), Jannie Brooks, Gunder Williamson (Bosman 50th).