Inclement weather resulted in a late start, but it was a start that the Stormers would rather forget.

The Bulls scored within the first two minutes of the match, with Johan Grobbelaar going over the line and Johan Goosen adding two with the boot.  Poor discipline cost the Stormers six more points in penalties, with the Stormers finally adding some points to the board thanks to try in the 16th minute from England wing Ben Loader, which Manie Libbok couldn’t convert. Goosen added two more penalties to bringing the score to 19 – 5 in the 22nd minute.

It was then that the Bulls made their first big mistake, which resulted in a yellow card for Stedman Gans. The Stormers took advantage of one less man on the field and Evan Roos scored a try, converted this time by Libbok.  A penalty kick from Libbok in the dying minutes of the first half brought the score to 19 – 15 at half-time.

The Stormers came out with a bang, but six minutes into the second half, Warrick Galant got a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, costing the Stormers a player for ten minutes. The Bulls took full advantages of 14 men on the field and Johan Grobbelaar scored his second try, again converted by Johan Goosen.  Less than ten minutes later, Canan Moodie went over for the Bulls and Goosen converted yet again.

The Stormers finally got the ball down, thanks to André-Hugo Venter, with Libbok making no mistakes in converting. But the Bulls had the last say, with Embrose Papier scoring another try and Johan Goosen – you guessed it – converting.  He certainly was a contender for Player of the Match, but that accolade ultimately went to Ruan Nortje. The Bulls’ 40 – 22 win means the Stormer’s 7-win streak against the team from Pretoria is finally over.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger