A disciplined Vodacom Bulls ground out a 47-07 bonus-point win over the Dragons RFC in Wales on Friday evening, scoring seven tries to one by the hosts.
The Bulls had a quick start to the match; however, following the Bulls' first try, the Dragons patiently absorbed the pressure and clawed their way back into the match. The Dragons’ try was just reward for their efforts, and the scores level after twenty-three minutes was a just reflection of the action on the field. The Bulls' late try edged them 12-07 into the lead going into the second half.
Despite playing most of the rugby in the second half, the Dragons did not score any points while the Bulls scored two tries to lead 26-07 with ten minutes still to play. The Bulls scored two tries in the final ten minutes to secure an emphatic 40-07 win.
The Bulls started the match dominating and following, setting up camp in the Dragons' red zone. Embrose Papier scored sniping off the back of a dominant scrum to lead 07-00 after eleven minutes of play.
Following twenty-three minutes of play, the soft hand pass by Thinus de Beer put outside centre Fine Inisi in a gap to score the Dragons' first points of the night. Cai Evans converted to level the scores 07-07.
The Bulls upped the pace of their attack, and Johann Grobbelaar scored off the back of a lineout-maul to lead 12-07 with three minutes to play.
The Bulls started the second half using their big forwards to pick-and-drive, winning several meters. After four minutes of play, Marcelle Coetzee was rewarded for his hard work, scoring the Bulls third try, bulldozing his way over the Dragons tryline. Handre Pollard converted to extend the Bulls’ lead to 19-05.
Thereafter, the Dragons played the most rugby while the Bulls seemed content to defend their lead.
Following a great kick downfield by Embrose Papier, the Bulls upped their pace of attack, and eventually Marco van Staden crashed over for the Bulls’ bonus point. Pollard converted to extend the Bulls’ lead to 26-07.
With six minutes to play, Marco van Staden bulldozed his way over the Dragons’ tryline. David Kriel converted to extend the Bulls’ lead to 33-07.
A mistake by the Dragons was pounced on by Devon Williams, who ran forty-odd meters for the Bulls' sixth try. Kriel converted to extend the Bulls' lead to 40-07.
With time up, Sergeal Petersen scored another try for the Bulls to secure an emphatic 47-07 win for the Bulls.
Scorers:
Dragons RFC: Tries: Fine Inisi. Conversion: Cai Evans.
Vodacom Bulls: Try: Embrose Papier, Johann Grobbelaar, Marcell Coetzee, Marco van Staden (2), Devon Williams, Sergeal Petersen. Conversion: Handre Pollard (3), Richard Kriel (3).
Teams:
Dragons RFC: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Fetuli Paea, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Niall Armstrong, 8 Harrison Keddie (c), 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Wyn Jones. Replacements: 16 Oli Burrows, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Matthew Screech, 21 Thomas Young, 22 Morgan Lloyd, 23 Harri Ackerman, 24 Huw Anderson.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 David Kriel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcelle Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Willie le Roux, 23 Sergeal Petersen.