Joel Leotlela got two tries in a high-scoring game.
Joel Leotlela scored two tries for the Stormers against the Bulls on Friday night. Picture: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
The Stormers XXIII’s Currie Cup semi-final hopes are still alive after a morale-boosting win over the Bulls XV at Loftus on Friday night.
Tom Dawson-Squibb’s side ran in seven tries to triumph 50-26, withstanding another second-half fightback from the hosts.
The visitors were in complete control for much of the first half, scoring five tries to take a 33-7 lead into the break.
The five log points took the Stormers up to fifth on the log, with the winless Bulls remaining bottom.
The Stormers face the Lions at Ellis Park in the final round next weekend, while the Bulls end their campaign against the Sharks XV in Durban.
The Bulls had no answer to the Stormers’ attacking pressure early on, with centre Markus Muller, flyhalf Kyle Smith, tighthead prop Herman Lubbe, winger Joel Leotlela and loosehead prop Mhleli Khuzwayo all crossing in a ruthless opening 40 minutes.
Leotlela added his second try shortly after the restart, slipping through several tackles in the corner following another sustained spell of Stormers pressure. Smith converted to stretch the lead to 40-7.
The Bulls finally found some momentum in the 54th minute when centre Demitre Erasmus collected a superb grubber from the flyhalf to score a well-worked try. Scrumhalf Keagan Johannes missed the conversion, leaving the Stormers 28 points clear.
Another powerful Bulls rolling maul produced their third try eight minutes later, with replacement hooker Jon Hobson dotting down. Johannes converted as the hosts reduced the deficit to 40-19.
Smith responded with a long-range penalty in the 67th minute before the Bulls were awarded a 5m lineout after centre Cornel Smit was sent to the sin bin for cynical play at the breakdown.
The Bulls made the extra man count, with flank Kebotile Maake crashing over from the resulting rolling maul. Johannes converted to cut the Stormers’ advantage to 43-26.
But the visitors finished strongly and restored their 24-point advantage through another powerful rolling maul try by replacement loose forward Eric Basson in the 75th minute, with Smith adding the conversion.
BULLS XV – Tries: Siphosethu Mnebelele, Demitre Erasmus, Jon Hobson. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (2).
STORMERS XXIII – Tries: Markus Muller, Kyle Smith, Herman Lubbe, Joel Leotlela (2), Mhleli Khuzwayo, Eric Basson. Conversions: Kyle Smith (6). Penalty: Smith.
This story first appeared on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished here with permission.
