Bulls Hold Off Ulster Fightback
The Bulls contained a zestful second-half response from Ulster to seal a 34-26 victory in their United Rugby championship encounter at Loftus versfeld on Saturday.
The Bulls made a strong start in two minutes, using their relentless push to send captain Marcel Coetzee over for the opening try. Handré Pollard added the scoreline to grant the hosts a 7-0 lead.
In the 18th minute, Elrigh Louw’s maul doubled the home side advantage, as the home side carried on enforcing pressure.
Pollard exposed a gap in the Ulster defence in the 32nd minute by delivering a well-timed 50-22 kick, finding Coetzee who then crossed for his second try of the afternoon.
Ulster’s Chay Mullins raced over for a thoroughly considered breakthrough in the first half stoppage time, giving his side consolation points at the interval.
The visitors return from half time had more intent, with David McCann striking in the 45th minute to bring them within seven points.
The home side’s assignment became more steep when Coetzee was booted to the sin bin in the 47th minute for reckless challenge, however Pollard nailed a penalty in a little while, to give his team some cushion.
Ulster’s consistent pressure gave them reward in the 63rd minute when Mullins wrapped up a move to record his second try of the match.
The Bulls sighted back emphatically three minutes later when hooker Johan Grobbelaar barged over the line to regain a comfortable margin.
Ulster was stubborn to let go and pulled closer again the 70th minute when Stuart McCloskey went over for their fourth try. Jack Murphy added the conversion kick to make it 31-26, producing a thrilling end at Loftus.
However, the home side also held their nerve towards the closing phases, winning a critical scrum penalty after pushing Ulster backwards in their own half. With another late penalty from replacement flyhalf Curwin Bosch, it guaranteed the Pretoria side obtained all five points after surviving Ulster’s second half wave of attacks.
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