In a scrappy match, the Vodacom Bulls secured a 39-31 bonus-point win over Leinster rugby at Loftus Versfeld
The Bulls started like a house on fire and set up camp in Leinster’s half, and after five minutes of play, Sebastian de Klerk caught a perfectly placed cross-kick by Keagan Johannes to score the Bulls' first try in the corner to lead 05-00.
With both teams throwing caution to the wind and attacking from everywhere, Harald Vorster slipped through a big gap and fed David Kriel, who scored in the corner. Johannes converted to extend the Bulls’ lead to 12-00 after sixteen minutes of play in the first half.
Minutes later, Sam Prendergast converted a penalty to cut the Bulls' lead to 12-03.
Following a quick tap by Leinster, followed by a great line run by Thomas Clarkson, who bulldozed his way over a few defenders to score Leinster’s first try. Predergast converted to make it a two-point game.
With five minutes to play, Keagan Johannes extended the Bulls' lead to 15-10 with an easy conversion.
With time up on the clock, the Bulls reverted to pick-and-drives until Mpilo Gumede crashed over for the Bulls' third try. Johannes converted to extend the Bulls' lead to 22-10 at the halftime break.
Leinster upped the tempo of the match in the second half, and tries by Hugh Cooney and Tommy O’Brien exposed the Bulls’ lack of a proper defence and pace out wide. Leinster led 24-22 after ten minutes of play in the second half.
Both sides attacked whenever the opportunity presented, and eventually the Bulls had an eight-man over on the attack, and Willie le Roux scored the Bulls’ fourth and bonus-point try to retake the lead 27-24.
With fifteen minutes of play, Leinster launched wave after wave of attacks and eventually Scott Penny crashed over for Leinster’s bonus-point try. Predergast converted to extend Leinster’s lead to 31-27.
Minutes later, Willie le Roux gave a perfect cross-kick to Stravino Jacobs, who strolled over for the Bulls' fifth try.
With time almost up on the clock, David Kriel intercepted a loose pass by Leinster and ran fifty meters to score the match-winning try. Kriel converted to extend the Bulls' lead to 39-31, which was the final score.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux.
Leinster Rugby: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath (c), 8 Max Deegan, 7 Will Connors, 6 Alex Soroka, 5 Ryan Baird, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Paddy McCarthy. Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Scott Penny, 21 James Culhane, 22 Fintan Gunne, 23 Ciarán Frawley.