Bulls players celebrate FILE. The Bulls produced a complete performance to overpower Irish powerhouses Ulster 47-21 in their United Rugby Championship match. Picture: @BlueBullsRugby/X
The Bulls produced a complete performance to overpower Irish powerhouses Ulster 47-21 in their United Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld, in Pretoria, on Saturday.
Though the Bulls conceded a couple late tries in the encounter, they were dominant throughout the clash with the result never looking in doubt once the home side got going.
Ultimately, the Bulls did enough to run out comprehensive victors while producing some masterclass running rugby.
Springbok Kurt-lee Arendse opened the scoring for the Bulls in the sixth minute as he darted through a couple tackles from close range. Boeta Chamberlain obliged with the extra two to make it 7-0.
Ulster were quick to respond with a piece of individual brilliance from Jacob Stockdale after he gathered a cross-kick he reeled off a chip-and-chase before gathering and scoring a try in the corner. Nathan Doak nailed the conversion from the touchline to level the scores (7-7).
David Kriel put the Bulls back into the lead just on the quarter hour mark, after a stunning backline move including a cross kick of their own by Willie le Roux. Chamberlain was on target again to make it 14-7 to the hosts.
The Bulls pulled off a superb maul from five metres out, with hooker Johan Grobbelaar diving over the line for the try. Once more, Chamberlain slotted the extra two (21-7) with the score remaining unchanged before the interval.
Bulls centre Canan Moodie was the first to score two minutes into the second half after the Bulls reeled off the phases in the Ulster half before the Springbok darted through a half-gap for the try. David Kriel took over the kicking duties and he too slotted his attempt to extend the Bulls’ lead to 28-7.
Bulls number eight Cameron Hanekom scored his side’s sixth try after a slick lineout move saw the loose forward fall over the line after a strong maul (33-7).
Just after the hour mark, Chamberlain produced a superb dummy to dart through a gap in the Ulster defence for yet another Bulls try. Kriel made the conversion from next to the uprights, to make it 40-7 to the Bulls.
Ulster finally scored their first points of the second half in the 69th minute when centre Ben Carson showed great strength on the touchline before scoring in the corner. James Humphreys nailed the conversion from an acute angle (40-14 ) just for good measure.
Moments later, a brilliant, flowing Ulster backline move saw centre Steward Moore gather a perfectly-timed inside ball ahead of the Bulls defence to score. Humphreys was on target again to bite into the substantial Bulls lead (40-21).
Springbok loose forward Elrigh Louw barged his way over following a number of phases on the Ulster line, with just a couple minutes remaining on the clock. Keagan Johannes nailed the conversion as the Buls edged closer to their half century (47-21).