Scarlets vs Bulls in URC

The Scarlets and Bulls compete for the ball.

Scarlets outlast Bulls in URC thriller

The Bulls slumped to an agonising 37-28 defeat against the Scarlets in their round 13 United Rugby Championship clash in Llanelli on Friday.

Scarlets vs Bulls in URC

The Scarlets and Bulls compete for the ball.

The Bulls slumped to an agonising 37-28 defeat against the Scarlets in their round 13 United Rugby Championship clash in Llanelli on Friday.

The result means the Scarlets have now chalked up only their fourth win in 13 matches, while it was the Bulls’ fifth defeat this season.

ALSO READ: Bulls stumble against Scarlets in Llanelli

Scarlets got the better of the visitors from South Africa in the first half, scoring three tries to two, which handed them a handy 27-14 lead going into the sheds.

The second half was tight as teams threw everything at one another, and this saw both sides earn their bonus point tries, although the hosts emerged victorious.

Scarlets scored the first points of the match compliments of a penalty goal in the third minute, but the visitors took the lead shortly after as Bulls scrumhalf Zak Burger scored a smart try from a pick-go from a ruck to dash through.

The Scarlets applied intense pressure on attack and this paid off as they got over the tryline thrice with scores by flank Dan Davis, prop Kemsley Mathias and scrumhalf Gareth Davies, who gathered a great chip kick before dashing over.

The successful conversions handed them an encouraging 24-7 lead.

ALSO READ: Scarlets vs Bulls — URC stats, facts and key history

The Bulls tried their upmost best to respond in kind, and they did work their way over the tryline, but the ball was held up. An error-ridden spell from both teams followed by an error-ridden spell by both teams.

But they got back among the points towards the end of the half with the Scarlets added a penalty to their tally before wing Stravino Jacobs crashed over the line to bag the Bulls’ second converted try for a 27-14 scoreline at the interval.

The Scarlets again stretched their lead to 30-14 with a third three-pointer soon after the restart, but the Bulls hit back strongly with back-to-back tries from flanker Cyle Brink and replacement prop Simphiwe Matanzima within seven minutes, which saw them earn their bonus point and trail by only two points.

The Bulls then suffered a telling blow when they were reduced to 14 players after conceding a yellow card and that allowed the Scarlets to pounce and score their bonus point try with two minutes left on the clock, which pushed the match out of range for the Pretoria outfit, and sealed the win for home side.

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Scarlets vs Bulls URC scorers and teams:

Scarlets — Tries: Dan Davis, Kemsley Mathias, Gareth Davies, Johnny McNicholl. Conversions: Sam Costelow (3), Dan Jones. Penalty goals: Costelow (3).
Bulls — Tries: Zak Burger, Stravino Jacobs, Cyle Brink, Simphiwe Matanzima. Conversions: Chris Smith (4).

Scarlets — 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Ioan Nicholas, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Aaron Shingler (captain), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Daf Hughes, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Subs: 16 Taylor Davies, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Morgan Jones, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Eddie James.

Bulls — 15 Johan Goosen, 14 David Kriel, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Jan-Hendrick Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Cornal Hendricks, 23 Wandisile Simelane.