No-hopers Bulls take sweet revenge on Stormers
at Loftus Versfeld NORTH versus South derbies are always a marvel to witness, but last night’s clash between the Bulls and Stormers was made extra special by the home team’s revenge at Loftus Versfeld.
What the 17-13 victory meant for the Bulls was evident as the crowd stood up and counted as the clock wound down.
The cheers, smiles and hugs among the Bulls faithful was humble pie for those who had not given the Pretoria side any chance of success this season.
In the build-up the Bulls had stressed their maturity since the last meeting between the sides in the opening match of the season.
The experience gained since showed for the side from Pretoria as they proved to be no pushovers like the side that lost 9-33 in Cape Town in February.
The first half of the match was far from exciting, with both sides practising much caution. As cautious as they tried to be, the first half and the early stages of the second were plagued by silly errors on either side of the field.
The 6-6 score at half time was a true reflection of the evenly matched opening half as the boot of Jean-Luc du Plessis for the Stormers and Francois Brummer for the Bulls contributed the only points in the first 40 minutes.
The 32 000 crowd expected a bruising encounter. The brutes were youthful RG Snyman and Jannes Kirsten for the Bulls and Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende for the visitors.
While the excitement lacked in open play, much of the focus was directed on the midfield battle between Bulls pair Snyman and Jason Jenkins and Stormers duo Du Toit and Eben Etzebeth. The Bulls duo won this battle. The home side made a few steals in the lineouts, and Etzebeth was nullified. The Springbok No 4 played only 40 minutes before being hauled off by Robbie Fleck — perhaps cautiously to avoid aggravating a calf injury.
There was a gear shift in the second half as the Bulls immediately upped the ante.
Just six minutes after the resumption scrumhalf Piet van Zyl crossed for the first five-pointer of the day.
Not to be outdone, De Allende scored the Stormers’ first try in the 68th-minute as the Stormers forged a fightback as the clock wound down.
Tian Schoeman ensured victory for the Bulls with a drop goal.