Stormers show Bulls who is boss...again

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers continued their winning streak over the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship with a 26-20 victory in a Round Eight match in Cape Town on Saturday.

The result means the Stormers remain unbeaten against the Bulls in the competition and their record against the old foe now stands at seven wins and zero defeats.

Jake White’s side outscored the Stormers by three tries to two in the match, but the Stormers managed certain periods of the game way better in front 39 925 fans.

After getting plenty of the ball in the first few minutes, the Stormers opened the scoring in the fifth minute with an easy Manie Libbok penalty.

The Stormers were playing in the right areas of the field and they were also helped by the Bulls’ ill-discipline. The Capetonians eventually extended their lead in the 11th minute with a well-executed drop-goal from Damian Willemse.

However, the Bulls scored the first try of the game not long after that as the Stormers’ maul defence crumbled with Reinhardt Ludwig bursting through to score the five-pointer.

The Bulls then found themselves in front in the 17th minute when wing Kurt-Lee Arendse chased down a grubber from Embrose Papier before showing some skill to control the ball and score.

Libbok reduced the Bulls’ lead to one point with a penalty before his team regained the lead with a Jean-Luc du Plessis try which all started with a great break by Deon Fourie in the midfield.

To make matters worse for the Bulls, Gerhard Steenekamp received a yellow card for a high tackle with his shoulder in the build-up to that try.

The Stormers were nearly in again in the 31st minute when Willie le Roux failed to deal with a crosskick from Libbok with Suleiman Hartzenberg dotting down the loose ball.

However, the TMO spotted Hartzenberg’s foot on the dead-ball line.

The Stormers then had another try disallowed moments later when the match officials ruled that Fourie propelled himself forward over the tryline after having a knee on the ground.

At half-time, it was 16-10 to the Stormers.

Just like in the first half, the Stormers opened the scoring in the second 40 with a Libbok penalty.

The Bulls then hit back when a long pass from Le Roux found Canan Moodie who dived over for a try in the corner in the 52nd minute. After missing his previous two conversion attempts, Goosen finally added the two points with a tricky one from the touchline.

Moments later, Willemse tried a similar feat in the opposite corner, but the fullback lost possession over the tryline.

However, the Stormers finally got their second try in the 6oth after the Bulls failed to deal with a high ball inside their own half. The ball was then spread through the hands and Ruhan Nel was on hand to finish off the score.

The Bulls ensured that they stayed in touch with a Chris Smith penalty in the 73rd minute.

The visitors had their fair share of the ball in the final minutes to steal a win, but the Stormers’ defence held firm

Man of the match: Deon Fourie was great with ball in hand and he had two great runs. One of those led to a try. However, the award goes to Stormers No.8 Hacjivah Dayimani, who was immense in the physical exchanges, particularly on defence.

The scorers:

For Stormers:
Tries: Du Plessis, Nel
Cons: Libbok 2
Pens: Libbok 3
DG: Willemse

For Bulls:
Tries: Ludwig, Arendse, Moodie
Con: Goosen
Pen: C Smith

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Janko Swanepoel, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Sebastian de Klerk.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)