Got over: Alwyn Hollenbach
Golden Lions secured a 32-23 win at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to leave the Blue Bulls rooted to the bottom of the standings following five rounds.
The result was a perfect response to their home loss to Griquas seven days ago as the visitors lifted their game dramatically in Pretoria.
Scores came through Deon Helberg, Alwyn Hollenbach, Jaco Taute and Lionel Mapoe, with Taute particularly impressive off the bench.
In reply, Blue Bulls crossed the line three times which meant they ended the game with no points in their pocket, due to losing by more than seven.
Elton Jantjies opened the scoring with a penalty on nine minutes but the Blue Bulls hit back with a try from scrum-half Ruan Snyman, who took a well-timed final pass from full-back Clayton Blommetjies. Louis Fouche added a penalty soon after to push the hosts into a 8-3 advantage.
On 40 minutes, visiting winger Helberg then scored his side's first five-pointer of the game with centre Mapoe playing a key role in the build-up to the try. Jantjies converted the extras.
The Lions opened the second-half with Mapoe showing a touch of magic, kicking a grubber kick he fielded himself, then offloaded wide to Hollenbach to score.
The home-side struck back with centre Francois Venter capitalising on a loose ball from a ruck on the Lions 22-metre line to score his try, with Fouche converting to level the scores.
The Johannesburg side continued their expansive play with Jantjies skillfully chipping the ball over the defenders' heads, which he picked up himself to get over the advantage line. Jantjies switched with Jaco Taute, who sprinted to the line to score a try in his comeback.
The Lions fly-half converted the try and added a penalty conversion ten minutes later.
With the clock winding down, the Bulls narrowed the gap with a Fouche penalty conversion and came close to equalling the scores once again when Blommetjies dove over for his try. Fouche, however, failed with the conversion attempt, leaving his side trailing by two points.
The Lions then added their fourth try when Mapoe deservedly finished off well on the right.
The scorers:
For Blue Bulls:
Tries: Snyman, Venter, Blommetjies
Con: Fouche
Pen: Fouche 2
For Golden Lions:
Tries: Helberg, Hollenbach, Taute, Mapoe
Con: Jantjies 3
Pen: Jantjies 2
Blue Bulls: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Louis Fouchè, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Dewald Potgieter (c), 7 CJ Stander, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Dawie Steyn.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Cornell Hess, 19 Jean Cook, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Lionel Cronjè, 22 Jürgen Visser.
Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Ruan Combrinck, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Willie Britz, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (c).
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Butch James, 22 Jaco Taute.
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Comments
kappelange says...
Something is seriously wrong at the bulls at the moment...and i couldnt be happier.
Its starting to show why they are buying all these players, its because they want to weaken the other teams
Posted 21:26 08th September 2012