Bulls move into top four with bonus-point win

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls took another step closer to a play-off spot with a bonus-point (29-17) win over Glasgow Warriors at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Outscoring the Scottish visitors by four tries to two in a scrappy match, the Bulls are just one win away from a place in Europe next season.

The first half was a real comedy of errors, with neither team getting a real foothold in the game.

It did not help that Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli was allowing the Scottish team to get away with blatantly delaying tactics at every set piece.

Niggling tactics – particularly by the Warriors’ British and Irish Lions prop Zander Fagerson – added to the displeasure of the home crowd. He was eventually yellow-carded right on the half-time hooter for repeated infringements.

The error-riddled nature of the game did not change in the second half, with Glasgow having the majority of the possession and territory.

However, the Bulls used the power of their forwards to get them the four tries and take them close to the play-offs.

* To recap the drama, CLICK HERE!

After a few early errors by the home team, Glasgow found themselves deep inside Bulls 22. The line-out maul was collapsed on the line – resulting in a penalty try and a yellow card to Elrigh Louw.

The Bulls hit straight by with a try from Izak Burger – who sniped around a ruck after a number for fierce forward raids.

At the end of the first quarter, the visitors reclaimed the lead through a Duncan Weir penalty, with Morne Steyn replying in kind just short of the half-hour mark.

Right on the half-time hooter burly prop Zander Fagerson was yellow-carded for repeated infringements (including offside). From the resultant penalty and phase play wing Madosh Tambwe strolled over for a 17-10 lead to the Bulls at the break.

Tambwe thought he had a second try in the 53rd minute, but the TMO ruled that he was in front of the kicker.

However, lock Walt Steenkamp got the try just on the hour-mark, following a series of powerful forward raids.

Cyle Brink got the bonus-point try in the 63rd minute, as the Bulls’ forwards continued to outmuscle the visitors – putting daylight between the Bulls and Glasgow, 29-10.

Ollie Smith started what appeared to be a valiant comeback attempt by the visitors, as he opened up a very sleepy Bulls defensive line.

The Glasgow fullback thought he had a second try, but the TMO found a forward pass in the build-up and the Bulls hung on for a 29-17 win.

Man of the Match

Arguably one of the most influential figures of the Bulls’ campaign, Johan Grobbelaar delivered another stand-out performance.

The hooker racked up a match-leading 12 tackles and won a couple of turnovers.

Play of the match

The move that sent Tambwe over was perhaps the pick of the bunch.

Marcell Coetzee’s reverse pass triggered a sequence of passes that spread the ball wide to the right for Tambwe to finish the job.

The scorers

For the Bulls
Tries: Burger, Tambwe, Steenkamp, Brink
Cons: Steyn 3
Pen: Steyn

For Glasgow Warriors
Tries: Penalty try, O Smith
Cons: Penalty try does not require a conversion, Thompson
Pens: Weir

Yellow cards: Elrigh Louw (Bulls, 6 – cynical foul, illegally collapsing maul on the line), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, 40+ – repeated infringements, offside)

Teams:

Bulls: 15 Canan Moodie, 14 James Verity-Amm, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Izak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Dylan Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Josh McKay, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Cole Forbes, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Ali Price, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Ryan Wilson (c), 5 Richie Gray, 4 Rob Harley, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Thomas Gordon, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Sam Johnson.

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

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* Additional reporting by @URCOfficial