In a thrilling URC match this past weekend, the Bulls secured a hard-fought victory over the Stormers at their tricky home ground in Cape Town.
This victory was especially significant as it marked the Bulls’ first win in six attempts at the venue, putting them firmly on track to clinch the SA Shield.
The Pretoria-based team has shown great determination, and with this win, they now look well-positioned for a playoff spot.
Bulls Eyeing Playoffs and Possible Semi-Final Home Advantage
The win has boosted the Bulls’ hopes of progressing through to the playoffs, and if they manage to get through the quarter-finals, they could potentially host a semi-final at their Loftus Versfeld home.
As of now, the Bulls remain in third place on the URC log with 35 points, trailing second-placed Glasgow Warriors by just two points and log-leaders Leinster by 13 points, with a game in hand.
Stormers Face Disappointment Despite Strong Performance
The Stormers, on the other hand, will be left bitterly disappointed by the loss.
Despite outscoring the Bulls with five tries to four—three of which came in the second half—they couldn’t secure the win, mainly due to their struggles with goal-kicking.
However, there was a small consolation for the Stormers as they earned two bonus points from the match, allowing them to move up to 10th place in the standings with 23 points.
With eight pool matches still remaining, the Stormers are only one point behind eighth-placed Edinburgh, so they remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.
A Thrilling, Back-and-Forth Battle
It was a thrilling back-and-forth battle from the very beginning, with both teams responding to each other’s scores.
The Bulls were first on the scoreboard, with Cobus Wiese and Jan-Hendrik Wessels crossing the line in the first half, while David Kriel added two penalty goals.
The Stormers responded with tries from Frans Malherbe and Salmaan Moerat, plus a penalty goal from Jurie Matthee.
In the second half, the Bulls struck first with Harold Vorster’s try, but the Stormers took full advantage of a yellow card to Gerhard Steenekamp.
In quick succession, they scored two tries—by Evan Roos and Warrick Gelant—putting the game into a nail-biting finish.
Bulls Hold Their Nerve to Secure Victory
As the game reached its final moments, Ruan Vermaak’s try in the 70th minute, along with another penalty from Kriel, gave the Bulls a six-point cushion.
The Stormers fought hard, and just two minutes before the final whistle, Ben-Jason Dixon scored to bring the game within one point.
However, Clayton Blommetjies missed the conversion, and despite a late yellow card for Nizaam Carr of the Bulls, the Stormers couldn’t manage to add any more points.
Final Score and Standings
The final scoreline read 33-32 in favor of the Bulls, with the Stormers coming up short despite a valiant effort.
The Bulls’ strong performance has them in a good position heading into the final stretch of the season, while the Stormers will need to regroup as they continue their fight for a playoff spot.
Scorers:
Stormers 32 (17):
Tries: Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Warrick Gelant, Ben-Jason Dixon
Conversions: Jurie Matthee (2)
Penalty Goal: Matthee
Bulls 33 (18):
Tries: Cobus Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Harold Vorster, Ruan Vermaak
Conversions: David Kriel (2)
Penalty Goals: Kriel (3)
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