At Ellis Park this past Friday, the Vodacom Bulls XV staged an epic revival in the second half to topple the Lions XV in the nail-biting SA Rugby U23 Cup final. Down by nine at the break, the Bulls charged through the second half, slapping down three tries to clinch a 33-32 victory, marking the Lions' first loss in the competition.
The game kicked off with the Lions asserting dominance early on, and they quickly capitalized on their home field advantage. By the 13th minute, lock Marco Ferreira bulldozed his way through to score, with flyhalf Matt Coetzee slotting the conversion. The Lions extended their lead to 14-0 when winger Jason Hugo capped off a well-orchestrated attack. However, the Bulls weren’t down for the count yet. Fullback Henry Immelman and winger Ruan Enslin answered with swift tries, slicing the deficit to a mere two points. But just before halftime, Lions’ centre Likhona Finca danced through defenders to score, pushing the Lions to a 21-12 halftime lead.
The second half saw the Bulls awaken from their slumber. It began with replacement prop Alulutho Tsakweni’s try, followed by scores from Khutha Mchunu and reserve scrumhalf Brooklyn Newman. Flyhalf Keagan Johannes converted all three, propelling the Bulls into a 33-27 lead. "The boys showed real character out there," noted one of the Bulls' coaches, reflecting on the dramatic turnaround.
"The boys showed real character out there."
As the clock ticked down, the drama intensified. Two late yellow cards saw the Bulls reduced to 13 players. The Lions pounced on the advantage, with fullback Gilermo Mentoe scoring late. However, in a twist of fate, Coetzee’s usually reliable boot missed the conversion, sealing the win for the Bulls by the thinnest of margins.
This thrilling final not only showcased the burgeoning talent in South African rugby but also the sheer unpredictability and excitement that the game brings. It was a heart-stopping conclusion to a fiercely contested U23 Cup.
LIONS XV: Tries: Marco Ferreira, Jason Hugo, Likhona Finca, Gilermo Mentoe. Conversions: Matt Coetzee (3). Penalties: Coetzee (2).
BULLS XV: Tries: Henry Immelman, Ruan Enslin, Alulutho Tsakweni, Khutha Mchunu, Brooklyn Newman. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (4).
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At Ellis Park this past Friday, the Vodacom Bulls XV staged an epic revival in the second half to topple the Lions XV in the nail-biting SA Rugby U23 Cup final. Down by nine at the break, the Bulls charged through the second half, slapping down three tries to clinch a 33-32 victory, marking the Lions' first loss in the competition.
The game kicked off with the Lions asserting dominance early on, and they quickly capitalized on their home field advantage. By the 13th minute, lock Marco Ferreira bulldozed his way through to score, with flyhalf Matt Coetzee slotting the conversion. The Lions extended their lead to 14-0 when winger Jason Hugo capped off a well-orchestrated attack. However, the Bulls weren’t down for the count yet. Fullback Henry Immelman and winger Ruan Enslin answered with swift tries, slicing the deficit to a mere two points. But just before halftime, Lions’ centre Likhona Finca danced through defenders to score, pushing the Lions to a 21-12 halftime lead.
The second half saw the Bulls awaken from their slumber. It began with replacement prop Alulutho Tsakweni’s try, followed by scores from Khutha Mchunu and reserve scrumhalf Brooklyn Newman. Flyhalf Keagan Johannes converted all three, propelling the Bulls into a 33-27 lead. "The boys showed real character out there," noted one of the Bulls' coaches, reflecting on the dramatic turnaround.
"The boys showed real character out there."
As the clock ticked down, the drama intensified. Two late yellow cards saw the Bulls reduced to 13 players. The Lions pounced on the advantage, with fullback Gilermo Mentoe scoring late. However, in a twist of fate, Coetzee’s usually reliable boot missed the conversion, sealing the win for the Bulls by the thinnest of margins.
This thrilling final not only showcased the burgeoning talent in South African rugby but also the sheer unpredictability and excitement that the game brings. It was a heart-stopping conclusion to a fiercely contested U23 Cup.
LIONS XV: Tries: Marco Ferreira, Jason Hugo, Likhona Finca, Gilermo Mentoe. Conversions: Matt Coetzee (3). Penalties: Coetzee (2).
BULLS XV: Tries: Henry Immelman, Ruan Enslin, Alulutho Tsakweni, Khutha Mchunu, Brooklyn Newman. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (4).