Stormers second-half blitzkrieg floors Bulls

The Stormers moved above the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship table after stirring second-half performance inspired them to a 37-27 home victory.

Stormers vs Bulls summary:

The first half was gripping as the Bulls showed their grit and despite receiving two yellow cards, scored a converted try and two penalty goals to a penalty try and two penalty goals by the hosts, which saw the teams enter the break tied at 13-13.

The Capetonians got the second half off to a storming start with three tries in a row to add to a penalty goal by Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok, while they limited the visitors to two late tries to snatch the handy victory.

The Stormers’ win was their seventh win in nine games, with one draw, and moves them to within four points of league leaders Leinster.

ALSO READ: Stormers vs Bulls: URC stats, facts and key history

FULL MATCH RECAP: 

Early Stormers pressure was rewarded with two Manie Libbok penalties inside the opening 10 minutes.

A one-man advantage was added to the six-point lead when Marco van Staden caught Dan du Plessis high and spent 10 minutes on the sidelines.

Referee AJ Jacobs felt there was mitigation over the head to head contact and spared Van Staden a red card.

Number eight Hacjivah Dayimani came within inches of scoring and putting the Stormers in full control, but the Bulls held out and handled being a man short extremely well.

Johan Goosen’s long-range penalty halved the deficit as the Bulls rallied.

But the Bulls were reduced to 14 men again when Elrigh Louw collapsed a maul as the Stormers were awarded a penalty try.

The hosts were opened up by a wonderful Bulls move after 26 minutes. Harold Vorster punctured the Stormers defence before Goosen, used cleverly as a second receiver, kicked to the corner and Nizaam Carr judged the bounce superbly to touch down.

Goosen converted from the corner and tied the scores with a straightforward penalty just before the break.

It looked as if the Bulls were getting on top, but Stormers hooker Joseph Dweba powered over following quick line-out ball and Libbok converted.

Moments later the Stormers produced one of the scores of the season, a stunning counter-attack as Dayimani, Ben-Jason Dixon, Libbok, Damian Willemse and Angelo Davids combined for Suleiman Hartzenberg to race over.

Libbok added the extras again and then scythed through the Bulls defence before finding Leolin Zas with a long pass. The wing cut inside several defenders to secure the bonus point for the Stomers.

Van Staden’s converted close-range try gave the Bulls hope, but Libbok replied with a third penalty for a personal 15-point haul. Bulls replacement hooker Bismarck du Plessis claimed a consolation score two minutes from time.

Scorers:

Stormers – Tries: Penalty Try, Joseph Dweba, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Leolin Zas. Conversions: Manie Libbok (3). Penalty Goals: Libbok (3).
Bulls – Tries: Nizaam Carr, Marco van Staden, Bismarck du Plessis. Conversions: Johan Goosen (2), Chris Smith. Penalty Goals: Goosen (2).

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