Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
After a thrilling opening weekend of action in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA the DHL Stormers hosted the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town. An arm wrestle for most of the game saw the Stormers suffering a second consecutive defeat at home with 20-16.
The first ten minutes of the game was a very even affair with both teams trying to dominate each other, especially upfront.
15:59 A superb counter-attack by The Bulls with Madosh Tambwe who scored the first points of the match after a 55m run. (00-07)
24:27 Evan Roos scored a brilliant try after the Stormers set up camp in the Bulls red Zone for several minutes. (07-07)
26:30 Abner van Reenen convert an easy penalty to put the Stormers in the lead for the first time in the match. (10-07)
43:08 The Bulls constant pressure that they put on the Stormers allowed Morne Steyn to kick a brilliant cross-kick which was caught by Madosh Tambwe. Tambwe strolled over for an easy try to put the Bulls back in the lead. (10-14)
At the halftime break, the match could have gone either way. The Stormers slowly started to dominate the scrums with the defence of both teams not giving many opportunities for their opponents to attack.
54:54 Morne Steyn score the first points of the second half with a converted penalty. (10-17)
60:00 The Stormers upped the tempo in the first twenty minutes of the second half, however, the Bulls' well-organised defence kept them from scoring well-deserved points.
61:50 Abner van Reenen converted a penalty kick. (13-17)
64:16 Chris Smith convert a penalty for the Bulls. (13-20)
66:45 Abner van Reenen added another penalty for the Stormers. (15-20)
A yellow card to Bulls substitute captain, Nizaam Carr almost cost the Bulls the win as the Stormers once again upped the pace and set up camp in the Bulls red zone for most of the remaining time of play.
A match that could have gone either way. The Bulls winning with 20-16
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Madosh Tambwe (2). Conversions: Morne Steyn (2). Penalties: Morne Steyn, Chris Smith.
DHL Stormers: Tries: Evan Roos. Conversion: Abner van Reenen. Penalties: Abner van Reenen (2).
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. (c). Replacements (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Cornel Smit, 23 Edwill van der Merwe, 24 Andre-Hugo Venter, 25 Adre Smith.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Madosh Tambwe, 13. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Embrose Papier, 8. Duane Vermeulen (c), 7. Elrigh Louw, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Lizo Gqoboka, 18. Jacques van Rooyen, 19. Janko Swanepoel , 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Chris Smith, 23. James Verity-Amm, 24. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 25. Reinhardt Ludwig, 26. Arno Botha, 27. Keagan Johannes, 28. Janco Uys.