Edinburgh Rugby scored a 34-28 win over the Vodacom Bulls to secure their place in the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final against the winner between Bath Rugby and Gloucester Rugby at home.
Edinburgh led 24-07 going into the second half, dominating territory 63% and possession 61%. The Bulls used their Springbok-laden bench to good effect; however, they were still short seven points when the time ran out.
Edinburgh made the perfect start to the match and scored the first try after brilliant running, interplay and passing by the hosts to lead 07-00 after just three minutes of play.
Three minutes later, Zak Burger was sent off with a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Edinburgh kicked the ball to the corner for a lineout from which they launched wave after wave of attacks. The Bulls' defence held to stop a second try before ten minutes passed.
Edinburgh kept up the pressure, and eightman Magnus Bradbury crashed over for their second try. Thompson converted to extend their lead to 14-00.
Three minutes later a break by Harold Vorster down the middle of the field who offloaded to David Kriel to score next to the upright, cutting Edinburgh's lead to seven points following the conversion by Keagan Johannes.
After twenty minutes of play, James Lang scored his second try of the day following a lucky bounce for Edinburgh on the attack. Thompson added the extra two to restore their fourteen-point lead to 21-07.
The next twenty minutes were exciting, and apart from a Thompson penalty conversion with three minutes still to play in the first half, no other points were added, and Edinburgh led 24-07 going into the second half.
The Vodacom Bulls were reduced to fourteen following a yellow card to Jannes Kirsten after one minute of play in the second half. Whereafter, Edinburgh upped their effort on the attack, and Grant Gilchrist crashed over to extend their lead to 31-07 following Thompson adding the extra two.
The Bulls attacked from the kickoff and were awarded a penalty try, with Edingburgh collapsing a lineout maul. Ross McCann was also sent off for ten minutes with a yellow card for his "efforts."
The Bulls added a quick second try when Cameron Hanekom danced over the tryline following a brilliant effort by the forwards. Goosen added the extras to cut Edinburgh's lead to 31-21.
Thompson added another three points, extending Edinburgh's lead to 34-21 after twenty minutes of play in the second half.
The Bulls eventually scored their fourth try after dominating for ten minutes, launching wave after wave of attacks. David Kriel eventually crashed over to cut Edinburgh's lead to 28-34, which was also the final score.
Scorers:
Edinburgh Rugby: Tries: James Lang (2), Magnus Bradbury, Grant Gilchrist. Conversions: Ross Thompson (4). Penalties: Ross Thompson (2).
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: David Kriel (2), Penalty try, Cameron Hanekom. Conversions: Keagan Johannes, Johan Goosen (2).
Teams:
Edinburgh Rugby: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 James Lang, 11 Ross McCann, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ben Vellacott (cc), 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (co-captain), 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 D'arcy Rae, 19 Robert Carmichael, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Ali Price, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Mosese Tuipulotu.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Nortje (c), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Canan Moodie.
