Bulls and Stormers make perfect start to new URC season

The Bulls and the Stormers got their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaigns off to the perfect start with bonus point wins in their opening games over Scarlets and the Lions respectively over the weekend.

The Bulls cruised to a huge 63-21 win over the Welsh challengers at Loftus on Sunday afternoon, while the Stormers managed to hang on by their fingernails to beat the Lions 35-33 in a thriller at Ellis Park on Saturday.

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In the Bulls’ game the hosts tore into a 28-0 lead after just 24 minutes thanks to converted tries to Ruan Nortje, Cameron Hanekom (2) and Johan Grobbelaar, before Scarlets hit back with two tries of their own to make it 28-14 at the break.

Further tries to David Kriel, Stedman Gans (2), Akker van der Merwe and Stravino Jacobs in the second half powered the Bulls to their massive score, while Scarlets could only reply with one more try.

Stormers v Lions

In the Stormers match, the Lions scored first with a converted try to hooker PJ Botha on his 50^th appearance, but the visitors came storming back over the rest of the half.

Tries to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Joseph Dweba and Herschel Jantjies, all converted by Clayton Blommetjies, as well as a penalty each from the boots of Blommetjies and Feinberg-Mngomezulu gave them a dominant 27-7 lead at the break.

A second try to Feinberg-Mngomezulu straight after the restart put the Stormers 32-7 up after just 42 minutes, but they only managed a penalty to Feinberg Mngomezulu over the rest of the half as the Lions fought back brilliantly.

Tries to Henco van Wyk, Ruan Venter, Morne van den Berg and Francke Horn, three of which were converted, brought the Lions back to within two points with just a minute to go but the Stormers held on.

Sharks v Munster

The other SA team in action on the weekend, the Sharks, went down 34-21 to URC defending champs Munster at Thomond Park Limerick on Saturday evening.

Munster were the better side over the game, as they held a 29-14 lead going into the final 10 minutes thanks to four tries, while the Sharks had responded through Werner Kok and Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

A fifth try to Munster and a converted score after the 80 minutes were up from Aphelele Fassi then ended off proceedings.

In other URC action over the weekend Ulster beat Zebre 40-36, Connacht beat Ospreys 34-26, Edinburgh beat Dragons 22-17, Benetton edged Cardiff23-22 and Glasgow Warriors beat Leinster 43-25.