Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
The Vodacom Bulls sealed the top spot on the Carling Currie Cup log for a home semi-final and pole position for a home final - with a game in hand - when they defeated the Xerox Lions 22-15 in an arm-wrestle of a Jukskei Derby at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.
The Lions knew exactly what they had to do to secure a home semi-final. Unfortunately, for the Lions, the defence from the Bulls did what was expected. The lack of discipline by the Lions in the last 50 minutes will have to be attended to before they meet the Bulls in the semi-final on 13 January 2021.
The first half was tight as both teams tried to use their physicality and hard running on attack to gain ascendancy, but with neither team able to breach the wall of defence, it came down to penalty goals.
Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Chris Smith kicked four back-to-back penalty goals in the second quarter to push his team into a 12-9 lead over their neighbours, who in turn entered the break with three compliments of Tiaan Swanepoel (fullback).
A converted try and a fifth penalty goal by experienced Springbok flyhalf Morné Steyn, to another two penalty goals by Swanepoel – who scored all 15 of the Xerox Lions’ points – nudged the Vodacom Bulls through for the win.
01:55 Tiaan Swanepoel added three points with a converted penalty. (00-03)
14:58 Tiaan Swanepoel added another three points on the back of the domination of the Lions pack of forwards. (00-06)
18:44 Another penalty slotted by Tiaan Swanepoel after a penalty from yet another dominant Lions scrum. (00-09)
The Xerox Lions' scrum dominant at this stage which the Lions used to dominate territorial and on the score-board.
22:47 Chris Smith converted a penalty. (03-09)
25:38 Chris Smith added another penalty. (06-09)
35:19 The Lions ill-discipline allowed Chris Smith to level the scores. (09-09)
40:00 Another converted penalty gave the Bulls deservedly the lead just before the end of the first half. (12-09)
The Bulls ended the first half with the momentum in their favour with their pack of forwards who weathered the storm early in the first half.
45:24 Embrose Papier scored the Bulls first try after the defence of the Lions reflected their performance the last 20 minutes. (19-09)
60:20 Tiaan Swanepoel narrow the gap after another successful conversion. (19-12)
66:01 Tiaan Swanepoel again on target from 55m. (19-15)
77:26 Morne Steyn extended the Bulls again to seven points via a converted penalty. (22-15)
The Bulls walked off the pitch as winners with 22-15. They will play against the Lions in the one semi-final next weekend who will have to attend to their lack of discipline.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Try: Embrose Papier. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalties: Chris Smith (4), Morne Steyn.
Xerox Lions: Penalties: Tiaan Swanepoel (5)
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls – 15 David Kriel, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Jay-Cee Nel, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jan Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Tim Agaba.
Xerox Lions – 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Sti Sithole, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Wandisile Simelane, 23 Francke Horn.