By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Vodacom Bulls kick-started their URC campaign with a convincing 53-40 win over Welsh province Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.
Hooker Johan Grobbelaar led the charge with a hat-trick, while captain Marcell Coetzee and 19-year-old wing Cheswill Jooste each bagged a brace to help the Bulls outscore the visitors nine tries to six.
The Ospreys made the brighter start, striking twice in the opening minutes. Keelan Giles crossed first before centre Keiran Williams found space to add the visitors’ second. Flyhalf Dan Edwards converted one to put the Welsh side 12-0 ahead.
The Bulls responded quickly through Coetzee, who powered over to get the hosts on the board, with Keagan Johannes converting.
It was an end-to-end opening quarter, and Coetzee soon levelled matters by forcing his way through the Ospreys defence for his second try.
Momentum swung again when Bulls fullback Devon Williams was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on in the red zone. The Ospreys took full advantage of the extra space, fullback Jack Walsh exploiting a gap out wide for their third try, converted by Edwards.
Williams then grabbed his second score of the half, Edwards again adding the extras, as the visitors stretched their lead to 26-12.
The Bulls hit back just before the break, with Grobbelaar finishing off a series of strong carries near the line and Johannes converting.
Grobbelaar powered over for his second try before Junior Bok Jooste, on URC debut, collected a well-timed pass from Johannes and raced through to put the Bulls ahead for the first time in the match.
The Ospreys’ problems deepened when lock James Fender was sin-binned, and the Bulls capitalised. Grobbelaar completed his hat-trick from a driving maul to hand his side a 36-26 cushion.
The game then opened up, with lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg breaking the line and offloading to Jan Serfontein, who cruised in for another Bulls score.
The Ospreys briefly rallied through No 8 Morgan Morse, but the Bulls’ onslaught continued as replacement prop Juann Els crossed and Jooste grabbed his second of the night.
Giles dotted down for his second in the closing stages, but it was little more than consolation as the Bulls started their season on a high.
Stormers started the United Rugby Championship with a convincing 35-0 win against defending champions Leinster at Cape Town Stadium on Friday evening.
SA Rugby Mag information contributed in this report.