Bulls grab bonus point in Reds victory

The Vodacom Bulls returned to their winning ways with a workmanlike 32-17 victory over the Reds in their Vodacom Super Rugby match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

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But while the victory was comprehensive on the scoreboard, the Bulls could easily have won by a lot more, and will be disappointed with the number of opportunities they fluffed on the evening.

While they scored five tries to two, and got the bonus point in the process, they butchered at least four more, and had one “stolen” from them by the TMO in a highly contentious decision where it Jade Stighling was judged to have lost the ball in contact.

On a night where it was difficult to decide who was more disappointing – the Reds negative tactics or referee Glen Jackson falling for them – the Bulls struck at least enough to secure the win and make sure they take another step forward before their second bye, which comes this coming week.

Their ability to get into the opposition 22 was instrumental in their victory, but their finishing was something that lest be forgotten. Pote Human has talked about white line fever for the side in the past, and given what they delivered on the day, the ailment hasn’t been cured just yet.

The second bye comes at an uncomfortable time for the Bulls, who would rather keep on playing to build some momentum, but at least they broke their duck this season against teams from overseas. That being said, the Reds are hardly a team that are going to challenge for honours, so the victory would have been accounted for in the pre-season planning.

Also positive was the return to action for RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Roelof Smit and Warrick Gelant. All four put in exceptional cameos to show that they are ready to fire again and with some more time on the park could take their places again as match-winners for the Bulls later in the season.

Johnny Kotze also deserves an honourable mention, as does Stighling, who did everything asked of him, often in limited space and deserved more than the one try he got.

As does Lizo Gqoboka, whose form this season has been exceptional and must be close to Rassie Erasmus’ plans. The Bulls may have fallen behind with an early penalty, but Gqoboka burst over from close range to give them the lead.

Stighling found himself down the near sideline when Gelant came perfectly into the backline to create the overlap, but it seemed from replays as if the ball left his hands as he grounded it. Either way an argument could have been made that he had fingers on the ball all along but in the end it wasn’t given.

Ten minutes later Van Staden showed his strength to power his way over from a lineout drive to get the ball over the line for the Bulls second try. It gave the Bulls a 13-3 lead at the break that they never looked back from.

Early in the second half captain Handre Pollard saw a gap and gave a trademark dart, carrying defenders on his back as he went over under the posts to extend the lead.

The Reds hit back briefly through Samu Kerevi, getting them to double figures but it mattered not as Hanro Liebenberg scored the try of the night – as a beautiful to and fro between Gelant and Snyman produced the break that allowed the fullback to offload to Liebenberg to score.

Pollard produced a pearler of a kick-pass cross field for Stighling to finally get on the board in the 64th minute and seal the victory.

Kerevi scored a second to underline his class, but it was never going to be enough to stop the Bulls from returning to the winning column.

SCORERS:

Vodacom Bulls – tries: Lizo Gqoboka, Marco van Staden, Handre Pollard, Hanro Liebenberg, Jade Stighling. Conversions: Pollard (2). Penalty: Pollard

Reds – try: Samu Kerevi (2). Conversion: Bryce Hegerty (2). Penalty: Hegarty