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Bulls comeback to trump Force
The Bulls managed to comeback and beat the Western Force 36-26 in an unconvincing performance by both teams.
The Vodacom Bulls collected a full-house of five Vodacom Super Rugby log points against the Western Force at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon, but it was a scrappy win and one that would not have left supporters of the three-time champions scratching their heads.
To sum up – the Vodacom Bulls won a scrappy match by 36-26 and while the log points are always welcome, more was expected of them against a team that has not yet won in 2013.
It started very well for the home team, with flyhalf Morné Steyn scoring their first try in the second minute, but after that it was a real scrap, with the unfancied visitors from Perth showing why they are regarded as the Vodacom Bulls’ bogey team.
Half an hour or so into the match, the Force took a 9-8 lead when their South African flyhalf, Sias Ebersohn, who left Bloemfontein for Perth at the end of 2012, added his second penalty goal to an earlier drop goal. However, Steyn added two more penalty goals to see the Vodacom Bulls go into the break ahead 14-9.
When Sampie Mastriet (wing), impressive on debut, scored early in the second half, moments after Ebersohn’s second drop goal, things looked better for the Vodacom Bulls, but the Force hit back with two converted tries and with an hour gone, they lead 26-19.
Kudos to the Vodacom Bulls though, who knuckled down and did was what needed in the final 20 minutes, with loose forward Jean Cook, also on debut, crashing over from a brilliant maul and Werner Kruger (prop) sealing the bonus point with the last movement of the match.
Steyn, who scored 20 points last week against the DHL Stormers, went one better this time and contributed 21 points against the Force on Saturday. He is now the joint top points’ scorer in the competition with the Chiefs’ Gareth Anscombe, on 41 points.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Morné Steyn, Sampie Mastriet, Jean Cook, Werner Kruger. Conversions: Steyn (2). Penalty goals: Steyn (4).
Western Force – Tries: Angus Cottrell, Toby Lynn. Conversions: Sias Ebersohn (2). Penalty goals: Ebersohn (2). Drop goals: Ebersohn (2).
