Saturday delivered two absolute nail-biters in the United Rugby Championship as South African franchises stared down ferocious second-half fightbacks to emerge victorious. The Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers both squandered commanding leads but showed championship steel when it mattered most, leaving their opposition empty-handed in breathless encounters.
Bulls weather Ulster storm at fortress Loftus
The Bulls appeared to be cruising at Loftus Versfeld, racing to a 21-0 lead inside the opening half-hour before Ulster mounted an extraordinary comeback. Johan Ackermann’s charges started like a house on fire, with skipper Marcell Coetzee crossing twice, first from a devastating maul in the second minute, then again after Handré Pollard’s sublime 50:22 kick. Elrigh Louw’s 19th-minute score from another clinical maul seemingly had the contest wrapped up. But Ulster refused to capitulate. Chay Mullins sparked the revival with a try on the stroke of half-time, before David McCann burrowed over five minutes into the second stanza. Matters worsened for the hosts when Coetzee saw yellow for a dangerous cleanout in the build-up. Mullins’ second try cut the deficit to 24-19, igniting Ulster’s belief. Johan Grobbelaar’s powerful response in the 66th minute extended the Bulls’ advantage, only for Stuart McCloskey to crash over and make it 31-26. The visitors pushed desperately for a match-winning score, but Curwin Bosch’s long-range penalty at the death sealed a 34-26 victory and cruelly denied Ulster a losing bonus point.
Stormers survive Cape Town chaos
Down at Cape Town Stadium, the Stormers produced a 12-try spectacular but suffered defensive nightmares in a pulsating 52-40 triumph over Scarlets. Injuries to André-Hugo Venter, Deon Fourie and Hacjivah Dayimani left John Dobson’s troops without a recognised hooker, forcing uncontested scrums late on. Zachary Porthen opened the scoring against 14 men before Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu conjured magic, producing an audacious behind-the-back flick for Haashim Pead to finish. Ntuthuko Mchunu, Seabelo Senatla and veteran Fourie added tries as the Stormers surged to 33-14 at half-time.Scarlets refused to yield. Macs Page and Joe Roberts’ brace dragged them back to 36-28 before Roberts completed his hat-trick to level proceedings at 40-40 with time ticking away. Evan Roos thought he’d scored but was controversially held up, before Yaqeen Ahmed finally broke Scarlets’ resistance, slicing through under the posts. Ahmed’s second try in the dying moments sealed a breathless victory. Both franchises showed character under pressure, though their defensive frailties will concern coaches ahead of sterner examinations.
