Despite wasting several scoring opportunities, the Bulls pulled off a satisfactory 25-13 victory over defending Currie Cup champions the Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening.
The Pretoria outfit missed out on a four-try bonus point that would have taken them to the top of the log after three matches, but they were unable to clinch the extra five-pointer despite a brace from right wing Henry Immelman.
That meant that the Lions – who beat Griquas on Friday afternoon – remained in the No 1 spot on 13 points due to a better points difference to the Bulls.
Coach Phiwe Nomlomo won’t have been happy with the number of errors in the red zone, though, as the Bulls weren’t able to convert a number of opportunities in the Cheetahs 22.
The home side started off well enough, with powerful No 8 Mpilo Gumede grabbing the first try of the match in the 12th minute after good work by hooker Joe van Zyl and scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde.
Fullback Devon Williams was also a constant threat with ball-in-hand and cut through the defence on a few occasions, but he lacked the support from his teammates, with knock-ons slowing down their momentum.
The Cheetahs showed some enterprise on attack too, with centre Munier Hartzenberg making a couple of classy runs out wide.
The visitors’ flyhalf, Ethan Wentzel, came his side in touch with two penalties to make it 10-6 in the first half, but just before the break, Immelman scored his first Bulls Currie Cup try with a superb finish as he charged through three tacklers in the right-hand corner.
Henry Immelman crashes over in the corner 💪💪
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And when the tall former Edinburgh fullback rounded off a second touchdown in the 51st minute, it looked like the Bulls were a sure bet for a bonus point.
But the Cheetahs showed real grit in defence, and were rewarded with some points when replacement flank Daniel Maartens scored after a clever delayed pass from Wentzel to put lock Carl Wegner into a gap.
Maartens later got a yellow card following the Cheetahs’ repeated infringements, but the Bulls were still not able to score a fourth try – with Gumede held up over the line.
Points-Scorers
Bulls 25 – Tries: Mpilo Gumede, Henry Immelman (2). Conversions: Chris Smith (2). Penalties: Smith (1), Jaco van der Walt (1).
Cheetahs 13 – Tries: Daniel Maartens. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (1). Penalties: Wentzel (2).
* A resurgent Lions pack changed the game with a powerful lineout drive around the hour mark that secured a crucial penalty try in a 25-13 victory over Griquas at Ellis Park on Friday afternoon.
At that stage, the Johannesburg side were in danger of going down at home as the Kimberley outfit roared back from a 12-0 first-half deficit to make it 12-8 at the break.
Centre Rynhardt Jonker ran a great line to round off the first Lions touchdown in the 15th minute following powerful surges by wing Rabz Maxwane and flank Siba Qoma.
A few minutes later, scrumhalf Nico Steyn grabbed the second five-pointer from a quick tap penalty.
But Griquas fought back through flank Carl Els’ try after a clever release and then pick up from centre Sango Xamlashe, and it was all to play for at 12-8.
𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲: Fidelity ADT Lions 25 – 13 Suzuki Griquas
A hard-fought victory, thank you Joburg for showing up for us.#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/4zj1LOA5o4
Griquas replacement back Zinedine Robinson crossed the whitewash with almost his first touch of the ball early in the second half, but flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela missed the angled conversion.
But worse was to come for Dobela in the 57th minute when he had a relatively easy penalty opportunity at the posts, but sliced his effort wide that would have given Griquas a 16-15 lead.
That was the cue for the Lions to take charge, and their pack earned the vital penalty try in the 61st minute to land the knockout blow.
Points-Scorers
Lions 25 – Tries: Rynhardt Jonker, Nico Steyn, Penalty Try. Conversion: Sam Francis (1). Penalties: Francis (2).
Griquas 13 – Tries: Carl Els, Zinedine Robinson. Penalty: Lubabalo Dobela (1).