By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Vodacom Bulls defeated Leinster 39–31 in a ten-try thriller in the United Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Tshwane.
Bulls crossed for seven tries, but defensive lapses allowed the Irish giants to stay in the contest until the closing stages.
The hosts made a strong start and were ahead inside four minutes. Harold Vorster picked from a ruck and Keagan Johannes executed a pinpoint cross-kick for Sebastian de Klerk to collect and score in the corner, with the fly-half adding the conversion.
Their second try arrived on 16 minutes when De Klerk countered from his own 22 following Sam Prendergast’s clearance. He beat several defenders and fed Kriel for an easy finish. Johannes was off target with the conversion.
Leinster reduced the deficit through a Prendergast penalty from distance after 20 minutes, but Will Connors was soon shown a yellow card for head-on-head contact with JJ Theron in midfield.
The visitors held firm during the sin-bin period, and were rewarded on the half-hour when Clarkson powered over from close range after a tap penalty, with Prendergast converting.
Bulls stretched their advantage on 36 minutes when Clarkson was penalised at the scrum and Johannes landed the three points.
On the stroke of half-time, Gumede added a third Bulls try from a close-range pick-and-go after the forwards had worked to within metres of the line. Johannes converted to make it 22–10 at the interval.
Leinster hit back strongly after the restart. Cooney finished off a sustained attack to score under the posts on 44 minutes, before Tommy O’Brien crossed two minutes later to complete a flowing move from deep inside the visitors’ half. Prendergast converted both to put Leinster 24–22 ahead.
The lead was short-lived. Just before the hour, le Roux broke through on the counter-attack, exchanging passes with Devon Williams before racing clear to score.
Leinster responded again on 66 minutes through Scott Penny, who forced his way over after a series of scrums and pick-and-goes. Prendergast’s conversion made it 31–27 to the visitors.
Bulls hit back three minutes later with their fifth try. De Klerk gathered a cross-kick before being stopped short, and Le Roux then picked out Jacobs on the opposite flank with another kick for the wing to score. Kriel’s conversion attempt drifted wide, leaving the hosts one point behind.
The closing stages were frantic. Prendergast attempted a drop goal from halfway with three minutes remaining but pulled it wide. Moments later, Leinster spilled possession and Kriel intercepted to race clear for his second try, which he converted to seal a 39–31 victory.
Bulls – Tries: Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel (2), Mpilo Gumede, Willie le Roux, Stravino Jacobs. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (2), Kriel. Penalty: Johannes.
Leinster – Tries: Thomas Clarkson, Hugh Cooney, Tommy O’Brien, Scott Penny. Conversions: Sam Prendergast (4). Penalty: Prendergast.