Bulls smash Lions to confirm URC renaissance

It is official. The Bulls’ renaissance after a gloomy period is complete after they demolished the Lions 52-17 on their home Ellis Park turf. It was the Bulls’ third win in a row after seven consecutive defeats, while the Lions once more have flattered only to deceive.

They were terribly disappointing following promising performances on their recent overseas tour. Both sides had returned from overseas tours, but it was the Bulls who better shrugged off the travel weariness.

They climbed into the home team from the first whistle, and the opening quarter belonged to them. And from sustained pressure in the Lions’ 22, Harold Vorster went over for the first try of the match, converted by Handré Pollard.

A door opened for the under-pressure Lions when Kurt-Lee Arendse clumsily clattered into opposite number David Kriel and was yellow-carded for his indiscretion. And their first points came a minute later when Lions scrumhalf Morne van den Berg kicked a relieving kick upfield and then raced up to catch Stravino Jacobs in possession. The latter was penalised for holding on, and Chris Smit kicked a long-range beauty.

But it proved to be a first-half shot in the dark because the Bulls renewed the pressure, with hooker Johan Grobbelaar capitalising on a long encampment in the Lions’ 22 for a try. Pollard missed the conversion, but made up for it when he scored close to halftime. The Bulls saved their best for last in the first half when Stedman Gans intercepted near the halfway line and, a series of adventurous phases later, Arendse finished off a fine team try and a commanding 26-3 lead.

Harsh words were surely said in the Lions’ change room. They hadn’t pitched up in the first half, and minutes into the second half, Van den Berg capped his team’s best period of the match with a try. But the Bulls hit straight back through Vorster, who burst over from close quarters for his second.

At 33-10, the Bulls were over the hills and far away. And it was officially a hiding when scrumhalf Embrose Papier finished off an impressive team movement. The rout was complete when flank Mpilo Gumede was on the scoring end of a spectacular breakout from the Lions’ half. Keegan Johannes took the score past 50 before Bronson Mills scored a consolation try for the Lions.

Scorers

Lions — Tries: Morne van den Berg, Bronson Mills. Penalties: Chris Smit (1). Conversions: Smit (2).

Bulls — Tries: Harold Vorster (2), Handré Pollard, Johan Grobbelaar, Mpilo Gumede, Embrose Papier, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Keegan Johannes. Conversions: Pollard (6).