Bulls win first round
SUPER RUGBY PRE-SEASON REPORT: A three-try blitz midway through the second half helped the Bulls claim victory in the first of two matches against the Lions this weekend.
The Bulls and Lions were level 12-all at the half-time break at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, but those three tries saw the home team claim a 33-22 win over their Trans-Jukskei rivals in what was essentially en encounter between their back-up squads.
The two teams - with their frontline selections and a host of Springboks on show - meet in the main match on Super Sunday in Soweto.
The Lions got off to a flying start, with hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg opening the scoring in the fifth minute.
However, tries by wing Sebastiaan Jobb (10th minute) and fullback Richard Kriel (on the quarter hour) saw the hosts take a 12-5 lead.
Just before half-time the Lions hit back through centre James Mollentze, to see the teams go into the break level (12-all).
The teams were well-matched in the early stages of the second half, but a double by Dawid Kellerman (57th and 68th minutes) helped take the Bulls clear.
Jade Stighling, who set up the first of Kellerman's scores with a sublime break, was rewarded for his efforts with a score in the 68th minute.
The Lions hit back with two late consolations scores - by Travis Gordon and Mandisi Mathiyane - in the final two minutes.
However, it was far too little, too late.
The scorers
For the Bulls:
Tries: Jobb, Kriel, Kellerman 2, Stighling
Cons: Isaacs 4
For the Lions:
Tries: Janse van Rensburg, Mollentze, Gordon, Mathiyane
Con: Reynolds
Teams
Blue Bulls XV: 15 Richard Kriel, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Franco Naude, 11 Sebastiaan Jobb, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Ewan Coetzee, 7 Andre Smith, 6 Ruan Steenkamp (Captain), 5 Jean Droste, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Madot Mabokela, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Dayan van der Westhuizen.
Replacements - from: Corniel Els, Kudzwai Dube, Eduan Swart, Carl Els, Janko Swanepoel, Jaco Labuschagne, Phillip Potgieter, Keagan Johannes, Vaughen Isaacs, Dawid Kellerman, Diego Appollis, Jay-Cee Nel.
Lions XV: 15 Muzi Manyike, 14 Jan-Louis la Grange, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 James Mollentze, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Dillon Smith, 8 Diaan Schoonees, 7 Jo-Hanko de Villiers, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys (captain), 4 Darrien Landsberg, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements – from: PJ Botha, Leo Kruger, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Adrian Alberts, Travis Gordon, Francke Horn, Tinus Combrinck, Louritz van der Schyff, Prince Nkabinde, Mandisi Mathiyane, Dameon Venter, Boitumelo Tsatsane.
Referee: Jaco Peyper