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Southern Kings vs Bulls – Sat 20 April - Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Final score: Bulls 34 Kings 0
The match starting with high intensity and the Bulls were on the attack immediately. A beautiful switch pass saw former PE boy and last year’s IRB junior player of the year Jan Serfontein through for an easy try which was converted by Morne Steyn. The Springbok pivot extended the lead to 10-nil after 21 minutes with a penalty out in front after more sustained pressure by the Bulls. On 24 minutes the dynamic Bulls scrumhalf Jano Vermaak rounded off a great counter attack to score in close and Steyn converveted to make it 17-nil. It was all the Bulls for the rest of the half and only brave defence prevented any further tries. A snap drop goal from out in front by Steyn took the score out to 20-nil up to the Bulls at half time. Just reward for completely dominating the first 40 minutes.
Interesting start to the second half. After only 4 minutes Luke Watson was subbed for Jacques ‘vleis’ Engelbrecht. The hooker Bandise Maku was also subbed with Hannes Franklin coming on. The Kings started stringing some attacking moves together and began enjoying some territorial advantage. The Bulls defence looked very solid and after 50 minutes still led 20-0. The Kings certainly looked better with the introduction of Engelbrecht but could not find a way through the Bulls defence. Another noteworthy substitution for the Kings came in the 60th minute when Demetri Catrakilis went off for the Kings. George Whitehead moved to flyhalf and Shakes Soyizwapi slotted in at full back.
A lot more territory for the Kings but no points to show for it after 65 minutes. The last 15 minutes was slow torture as the intensity went out of the game. The Southern Kings attacking had come to nought and now it was their turn to defend again. With three minutes on the clock the Bulls got some forward momentum and it was a former Kings player in Jacques Potgieter who muscled his way over. The conversion made it 27-0. After the final hooter the Kings spilt possession and the Bulls pounced. It was the winger Akona Ndungane who did very well to stretch out and dot the try much to the delight of his team mates. They’d scored two tries in three minutes at the death to secure not only the win but snatched that 4-try bonus point. The Southern Kings will be disappointed to have been held scoreless in their worst showing to date in Super Rugby. Next week its the Cheetahs in Bloem for the Kings and they’ll need to pick themselves up quickly. That assignment will be no easier than the once they faced against the Bulls
