More home URC success for pace-setting Bulls and Stormers

The Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers each claimed consecutive victories over the weekend in the second round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks fought hard for a draw against the Dragons in Wales and the Lions went down in a tense affair to Zebra Parma in Italy.

The Stormers, who whitewashed Leinster in their opening clash last weekend, had to fight for their 26-10 success over the Ospreys in Cape Town on Friday evening, before the Sharks and Dragons shared the spoils 17-17 in their match played in a furious rainstorm in Wales.

Saturday evening saw the Bulls turn the tables on Leinster who defeated them in last season’s final in Dublin, with the Pretoria outfit securing a 39-31 win over the champions before they embark on their European tour.

In the last game of the weekend, the Lions came close but went down 22-20 for their first loss to the Italian side Zebra Parma, who scored the winning points with a few minutes left on the clock.

The Bulls top the standings with 10 points, one ahead of the Stormers, who also have two home wins under their belt. The Sharks are in 11th place with two league points while the Lions are 13th with a single point next to their name.

Next weekend, in round three, all four South African sides are in action in Europe. The unbeaten Stormers are away to the Scarlets in Wales (Friday at 8.45pm). The Lions continue their Italian trip with a visit to Benetton (Saturday at 4pm) and the Sharks face defending champions Leinster later that day (6.30pm) in the title holders’ first home game following their two-game outing to South Africa, followed by the Bulls against Ulster clash (8.45pm).

The Stormers secured a hard-fought victory over the Ospreys at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday evening, driven by an influential second-half performance by fullback Wandisile Simelane.

Despite winning the territory and possession battle, the Capetonians trailed 10-8 at the break. Early Ospreys momentum, capped by two tries from scrumhalf Kieran Hardy – one following a superb run by wing Daniel Kasende – put the hosts under pressure. Stormers flyhalf Jurie Matthee kept the scoreboard ticking with a penalty on the stroke of half-time, cutting the deficit to two points.

Stormers coach John Dobson’s chargers, including Dewaldt Duvenage for his 100th cap, struggled to generate quick momentum. The tide decisively turned early in the second half with the introduction of fresh legs, notably former Junior Bok captain Paul de Villiers and Springbok flanker Ben-Jason Dixon, who provided much-needed presence.

The crucial turning point arrived in the 59th minute, from a move Simelane started deep in his own half. After offloading to Ruhan Nel, the Stormers fullback received the ball back and dotted down the decisive try to break the Ospreys' resolve.

Matthee’s successful penalty soon after the break had already given the Stormers a lead they wouldn't relinquish. De Villiers capped his impressive shift with the hosts’ final try from a driving maul, pushing them close to a bonus point that ultimately eluded them. The second half performance saw the Cape side keeping a clean sheet during this period for second week a row, following last week’s effort against Leinster in Cape Town.

Score

DHL Stormers 26 (8) – Tries: Evan Roos, Wandesile Simelane, Paul de Villiers. Conversion: Jurie Matthee. Penalties: Matthee (3).

Ospreys 10 (10) – Tries: Kieran Hardy (2).

The Sharks and the Dragons fought out a draw in inclement conditions at Rodney Parade, with both teams left to bemoan opportunities in their clash on Friday evening.

Heavy rain and strong winds made playing conditions difficult and although the Durbanites had a three-point advantage at the break, they couldn’t build on that in the second half. In fact, so tight was the contest in the second stanza that the Ospreys’ penalty was the only points of this period.

The Sharks asserted their dominance early, with Bok lock Marvin Orie driving over for the first try. However, defensive lapses by the visitors allowed Dragons' No 8 Aaron Wainwright and later Angus O'Brien to score, levelling the scores and then putting the Dragons ahead.

The KZN side’s captain Vincent Tshituka responded just before the break, sending them into halftime with a narrow 17-14 lead.

The second half belonged to the forwards, with the Sharks winning a massive 11-3 penalty count at the scrum, yet failing to convert this advantage into points. The Dragons levelled matters through a Tinus de Beer penalty goal, and had the final, decisive opportunity while the visitors were reduced to 14 men.

Despite De Beer calling for a drop goal, the Dragons pressed for a try, only for the move to end inches from the line with a knock-on. The draw extended the Dragons' winless streak since April last year and left the Sharks disappointed, as they failed to capitalize on their set-piece superiority ahead of a challenging fixture next against Leinster.

Score

Dragons 17 (14) – Tries: Aaron Wainwright, Angus O’Brien. Conversions: Tinus de Beer (2). Penalty: De Beer.

Hollywoodbets Sharks 17 (17) – Tries: Marvin Orie, Vincent Tshituka. Conversions: Jean Smith (2). Penalty: Smith.

The Bulls gained an important victory over defending champions Leinster at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday night, with David Kriel’s intercept try three minutes from time settling this rematch of last season’ final which the Irish side won in Dublin.

The win marked the team from Pretoria’s second consecutive home victory and propelled them to the top of the standings after two rounds, although coach Johan Ackermann will have concerns as they prepare for a challenging three-week overseas tour in the coming weeks.

The Bulls strongly, with Keagan Johannes setting up Sebastian de Klerk, who then initiated a stunning counter-attack leading to Kriel’s first try. Celimpilo Gumede added a third on the stroke of half-time, giving the hosts a 22-10 lead.

However, Leinster, who had strengthened their side after a heavy defeat to the Stormers the previous week, responded ferociously in the second half. They ran in three quick tries from Thomas Clarkson, Hugh Cooney, and Tommy O'Brien to briefly snatch the lead at 24-22, exposing gaps in the Bulls' defence.

The lead changed hands multiple times through the final quarter, due to tries from Bok centurion Willie le Roux and Stravino Jacobs. With the Irish side on the hunt for the winning score, Kriel proved the hero when his intercept try sealed the victory for the hosts.

Score

Vodacom Bulls 39 (22) – Tries: Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel (2), Celimpilo Gumede, Willie le Roux, Stravino Jacobs. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (2), Kriel. Penalty: Johannes.

Leinster 31 (10) – Tries: Tom Clarkson, Hugh Cooney, Tommy O’Brien, Scott Penny. Conversions: Sam Prendergast (4). Penalty: Prendergast.

The Lions suffered their second consecutive defeat of the season, losing to Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Italy on Sunday afternoon.

It was a bitter loss for the Highvelders, whose valiant second-half comeback was nullified by a 78th-minute try from Zebre replacement Matteo Nocera, ensuring a heartbreaking end to the encounter for the visitors.

Zebre started the match strongly, utilizing a dominant set-piece and breakdown intensity to keep the Lions pinned back. Tries from Bautista Stavile Bravin and Tomasso di Bartolomeo gave the home side a 12-3 lead, built on phases and maul strength, with the Joburgers struggling to find rhythm.

However, the Lions mounted a good rally in the second half, sparked by a yellow card shown to Zebre’s Samuele Locatelli. Exploiting the numerical advantage, the visitors saw Bok fullback Quan Horn and midfielder Henco van Wyk combine for impressive attacking plays, resulting in tries for SJ Kotze and Eduan Keyter, followed by a score from Morne Brandon to put the Lions ahead 20-15 with five minutes to go.

Just when the Lions looked set to grind out a vital away victory, Nocera crashed over the line two minutes from time, levelling the scores. Replacement Martin Roger Farias calmly slotted the conversion, securing a two-point win and handing Zebre their first-ever victory over the Joburg franchise.

The Lions were left to rue missed opportunities and a couple of wayward kicks at goal as they prepare to face Benetton in the final match of their tour.

Score

Zebre Parma 22 (12) – Tries: Bautista Stavile Bravin, Tommaso di Bartilomeo, Matteo Nocera. Conversions: Giancomo da Rea, Martin Roger Farias. Penalty: Farias.

Lions 20 (3) – Tries: SJ Kotze, Eduan Keyter, Morne Brandon. Conversion: Lubabalo Dobela. Penalty: Chris Smith.