By Lucky Vince Pienaar
➤ First half
It takes 30 seconds for Johann Goosen to put three points on the board. In a match that could be very close, a penalty could swing it. (Bulls 3-0 Glasgow)
You would have thought the Warriors would have targeted fullback Devon Williams who is standing in for Willie le Roux, but they prefer to keep ball in hand, mostly through the forwards. Excellent Warriors coach Franco Smith would have decided to play it like that, and certainly, in the early part of the match, the Warriors give as good as they get.
But then the first scrum results a clear penalty for the Bulls. This is where Jake White’s team could win the match.
After the Warriors scramble like mad to keep the Bulls forwards out of the goal area, Johann Goosen scores a second penalty. (Bulls 6-0 Glasgow)
The brave Warriors do not stand back one inch for the Bulls, but after only 20 minutes, perhaps the men from Glasgow appear to be breathing just a little too heavily. They are clearly struggling to stop the Bulls forwards from scoring.
The breakthrough comes through Marco “Eskom” van Staden who simply drags three players over the line with him. Johann Goosen converts. (Bulls 13-0 Glasgow)
A loose pass by Embrose Papier is taken in by quick-stepping wing Sebastian Cancelliere who covers half the field before he is taken down and Kyle Steyn comes very close to scoring. Only desperate defence by the Bulls’ forwards prevents the try.
On 35 minutes, Devon Williams proves his worth, combining with Kurt-Lee Arendse to cross the advantage line and almost scoring a try.
Respect to the Warriors. They take on the Bulls forwards and score with the clock in the red. A special try. Horne converts. (Bulls 13-7 Glasgow)
➤ Second half
Clearly the break had done the Warriors some good because their backline comes out fighting and for the first five minutes they have the Bulls on the backfoot.
Coach Franco Smith has obviously decided to up the pace. It might work, provided they don’t run out of steam.
It also raises the question that’s been asked all week: can the Bulls repeat the performance of last week against Leinster?
What a joy it is to have a good kicker on the field. There is no doubt as Johann Goosen steps up and takes a three-pointer. (Bulls 16-7 Glasgow)
But the Glasgow forwards maul over the line with the try going to hooker George Turner. This game is not over! (Bulls 16-14 Glasgow)
Has coach Franco Smith outplayed coach Jake White?
The Warriors try seems inevitable. Huw Jones runs through a big gap to score a team try. (Bulls 16-21 Glasgow)
Jack Dempsey’s try is disallowed after an early tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse. Talk about a let off.
The Bulls’ response is determined, but flat-footed. They attack through the middle but they never get over the advantage line.
With nine minutes to go, George Horne has a vital penalty that will take the Warriors ahead by two scores – but he misses.
Johann Goosen gets a penalty to go for the lineout – but he kicks it over the dead ball line. Is that the last deadly error?
The clock is in the red. The Bulls surge over the line, but the ball is held up. The victory of the Glasgow Warriors is well deserved.
Vodacom Bulls 16-21 Glasgow Warriors
Bulls tries: Marco van Staden
Warriors tries: Scott Cummings, George Turner, Huw Jones
Pictured above: Tired Bulls outplayed by brave Warriors.
Image source: X
