Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
The second last round of the South African competition of the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup resumed in Gauteng this weekend after a bye last week. The Vodacom Bulls hosted the DHL Stormers at Loftus Versfeld and most probably secured their place in the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup Final after a last-minute try which gave them a 31-27 victory.
The Stormers started the match with strong attacking play in the Bulls quarter which led to the first points of the match. However, that was short-lived as the Bulls dominated the possession and territorial play throughout most of the game.
Despite this, the Stormers defended well and scored on the few occasions that they managed to get into the Bulls quarter keeping the scoreboard very even and leading the Bulls right up to the end of the match, just before the Bulls snatched victory from them with a try in the 79th minute. This victory means that the Bulls remain at the top of the SA conference log with 20 points and strengthens their chance to advance to the final in Treviso against the Northern Hemisphere conference winners.
07:11First points scored for Stormers with a penalty kick by Tim Swiel(10), (3-0).
09:09 First try for Stormersby Damien Willemse(15) who poached the ball from a Bull's ruck on their try line. Converted by Tim Swiel(10), (10-0).
13:32 First points for Bulls with a try by MarcellCoezee (6) and converted by Morn Steyn (10), (10-7).
The first 20 minutes started with good pressure play by the Stormers which resulted in the first points of the match, however, the Bulls soon regained control of the match with good attack and territorial play which resulted in them gaining ground on the scoreboard.
32:01 Bulls captain Duane Vermeulen (8) leaves the field due to injury which could negatively affect the Bulls leadership and their effort to take over control of the scoreboard.
35:41 Try by Stormers' Edwill van der Merwe (11) after the Stormers managed to get into the Bulls’ quarter after a very long period of play. Converted by Tim Swiel (10), (17-7).
The scoreboard remained rather static in the last 20 minutes leading up to halftime apart from the try by the Stormers, with the ball possession constantly changing sides however the Bulls enjoyed 70% territorial advantage doing most of the attacking with the Stormers effectively defending their try line.
50:35 Try by Bulls Johan Grobbelaar (1) after a powerful driving maul from a lineout penalty kick. Conversion missed by Morne Steyn (10), (17-14).
55:49 Second try by Bulls Johan Grobbelaar (1) after another powerful driving maul from a lineout penalty kick. Converted by Morne Steyn (10), (17-21).
58:52 Stormers score a try from the Bulls kick off when Rosko Specman (14) collected the kick and made a good break before passing to Tim Swiel (10) who went over for the try, (22-21).
The first 20 minutes of the second half again saw the Bulls continuing their strong attacking play and pinning the Stormers in their quarter and scoring the first points of the second half. However, the Stormers managed to score on the few occasions that they managed to get into the Bulls quarter.
66:30 Penalty kick by Bulls Morne Steyn (10), (22-24).
69:11 Try by StormersEdwill van der Merwe (11). Conversion missed by Tim Swiel (10), (27-24).
79:52 Try by Bulls' Ruan Nortje (5) after a driving maul from a penalty awarded close to the Stormers try line. Converted by Morne Steyn (10), (27-31).
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: MarcellCoetzee, Johan Grobbelaar (2), RuaanNortje.Conversions: Morne Steyn (3). Penalties: MorneSteyn.
DHL Stormers: Tries: Damien Willemse, Edwill van der Merwe (2), Tim Swiel, Conversions: Tim Swiel (2), Penalties: Tim Swiel
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. MadoshTambwe, 13. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Morn? Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 8. Duane Vermeulen (C), 7. ElrighLouw, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. JankoSwanepoel, 20. Marco van Staden, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Chris Smith, 23. GioAplon, 24. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 25. Muller Uys, 26. Jan Uys, 27. James Verity-Amm, 28. Keagan Johannes.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 RuhanNel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 David Meihuizen, 3 NeethlingFouche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff (C). Replacements (from): 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 GodlenMasimla, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Sergeal Petersen, 24 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 25 Juarno Augustus.
Article by Francois du Toit