Powerful drives heaped pressure on Glasgow Warriors, who paid for every penalty they conceded. In the end, the game was one-sided.
The Bulls used their forward strength to dominate Glasgow Warriors, securing a 26–19 win in their United Rugby Championship match at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday.
Leading 9–7 at half-time, the Bulls tightened the screws in the second half to open up a 26–7 lead, conceding only two late tries that added some respectability to the scoreline for Glasgow.
While Bulls director of rugby Jake White said ‘revenge‘ wasn’t the focus, he’ll be smiling at the result, having targeted the game since Glasgow beat the Bulls in last year’s URC final.
Set-pieces were crucial in a game between the team that has scored the most tries from set-pieces in the tournament (Glasgow) and the team that has conceded the fewest tries from lineouts (Bulls).
But the Pretoria side bulldozed the Scottish team in scrums and mauls, compounding pressure and causing the home side to make mistakes. There was no reprieve there as Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen slotted all four of his penalty kicks, plus two conversions.
Bulls dominate Glasgow in Scotland
Glasgow controlled possession and territory in the first quarter and were only denied scoring thanks to Bulls prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels holding the ball up when they went over. However, the Bulls found momentum with two penalty kicks early on.
But after Bulls prop Wilco Louw was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, Glasgow capitalised on the overlap, with Jamie Dobie scoring a converted try near the sideline in the 34th minute.
But it was the Bulls who had the lead at the break (9–7) thanks to another great penalty kick from Goosen.
The Bulls extended their lead through a converted Johan Grobbelaar try following a powerful drive in the 51st minute. Another penalty from Goosen made it 19–7 four minutes later.
David Kriel scored the Bulls’ second try with a scrappy finish after a kick-and chase in the 69th minute. Goosen slotted again to extend the lead to 19 points going into the final quarter.
Glasgow scored two late tries thanks to Kyle Steyn (overlap) and Stafford McDowall (line break) to reduce the difference to seven points.
Scorers
Bulls: Tries – Johan Grobbelaar, David Kriel. Conversions – Goosen 2/2. Penalties – Johan Goosen 4/4.
Glasgow: Tries – Jamie Dobie, Kyle Steyn, Stafford McDowall. Conversions – George Horne 2/3.
