Bold Lions wrestle down Bulls in Jukskei battle
THE Blue Bulls had their first taste of defeat after a loss to the Golden Lions at Loftus Versfeld last night.
For five weeks coach Nollis Marais and his charges had been feasting on a buffet of victories, but that feast under the new coach came to an abrupt end as they were served a beating on a platter.
Who would have thought that at the halfway mark the score would be 30-7 in a top-of-thetable clash between two fierce rivals? And it was not the home side who enjoyed the lead.
The way the Bulls rushed to the change room after referee Marius van der Westhuizen blew the half time whistle was an indication that the side knew there was plenty to talk about during the break.
How quickly they returned from the tunnel was also proof that Marais — a man who does not mince his words — was stern, brief and to the point. This was after the hosts came close to going into the break without having scored a point.
It was tries from Courtnall Skosan, Franco Mostert and Ruan Combrinck, together with EXCITING: Ruan Combrinck of Lions scored the third try points from the boot of Marnitz Boshoff that gave the Lions an early edge. Jamba Ulengo’s try gave the Bulls the first points.
In the second half, Arno Botha, Deon Stegmann and Ulengo scored tries to narrow the deficit. But the Bulls left it too late for a come-from-behind victory. MEANWHILE, Khanyiso Tshwaku at Kings Park in Durban reports that Western Province did exactly what was expected of them by easing to a 10-point victory — 37-27 — in a game of two distinct halves.
The Sharks had an assured first half before an early second half blitz from the Cape visitors knocked the stuffing out of the hosts, who were celebrating their 125th anniversary.
With their forwards adhering to the basics and cutting out ingrained errors, the Sharks took a deserved half time lead.
Despite dominating the other collisions, they battled in the scrums as Steven Kitshoff made his presence felt.
The hosts should have scored more tries than the 35th minute touchdown by centre Andre Esterhuizen but Joe Pietersen’s boot kept them in the hunt. The flyhalf landed four penalties while his Province counterpart, Robert du Preez, landed a penalty and a conversion.
Seabelo Senatla scored Province’s first try in the sixth minute when the Sharks were caught short defensively.
John Dobson’s side quickly reasserted themselves with three tries after the break. Rynhardt Elstadt, Dillyn Leyds and Bongi Mbonambi crossed the tryline in the 42nd, 47th and 53rd minutes respectively.
The hosts hit back in the 60th minute through an Odwa Ndungane try. That was the Sharks’ second half high water mark as intelligent rugby by Western Province consigned them to a third defeat.