By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The DHL Stormers beat the Vodacom Bulls 13-8 in their URC derby in Cape Town on Saturday, extending their winning run to 10 games.
The first half hour was a tit for tat affair until Handre Pollard broke the deadlock with some quick thinking, taking a tap penalty and going over for the first try of the match, somewhat against the run of play to give the Bulls a 5-0 lead.
The Stormers hit back almost immediately. With Willie le Roux in the sin-bin, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu first landed a penalty goal and a few minutes later, Evan Roos crashed over from an attacking lineout.
While the DHL Stormers opted for lineouts rather than aim at the posts, a tactic that only worked twice, the Bulls aimed at the posts a few times, but was Pollard not on song and only landed one kick from four, a penalty goal early in the second half that tied the scores on 8-8.
That is how it stayed until the 79th minute when the DHL Stormers again went for a lineout from a penalty, but this time it worked out perfectly was NtutukhoMchunu crashed over to seal the win.
Both sides now turn their attention back to the Investec Champions Cup, with the Bulls hosting Bristol and the Stormers travelling to London to face Harlequins.
Stormers – Tries: Evan Roos, Ntuthuko Mchunu. Penalty: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Bulls – Try: Handre Pollard. Penalty: Pollard.
Meanwhile replacement scrumhalf Haashim Pead’s 81st-minute try gave the Lions a stunning victory against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
The 23-22 result broke a four-match losing streak for the Lions across competitions and handed Sharks interim coach JP Pietersen his first loss.
The Sharks next in action away to Sale in the Investec Champions Cup, followed by Clermont at home. The Lions next face Lyon and Perpignan in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Sharks – Tries: Manu Tshituka, Siya Kolisi, Jason Jenkins, Edwill van der Merwe. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse.
Lions – Tries: Etienne Oosthuizen, Francke Horn, Haashim Pead. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalties: Smith (2).