Vodacom Bulls get losing bonus point in Auckland
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Loading...The Vodacom Bulls’ hopes of making the playoffs took a nose-dive with a frustrating 23-18 loss to the lowly Blues at Eden Park on Friday.
While the Bulls technically stay in second and level on points with the DHL Stormers because of the losing bonus point they took from the game, this was supposed to be the game that gave them the start to their overseas tour that they wanted.
Instead they slumped to their eighth straight overseas loss in the competition, and with it handed all the advantage back to their Cape rivals in the competition.
The Bulls dominated territory and possession but could not convert it into points against the unfancied Blues, denting their chances of making the play-offs.
Two tries to centre Jan Serfontein were not enough in a tight match where the lead changed five times but the bulk of chances fell to the South Africans.
“We made too many mistakes,” captain Pierre Spies said, adding that the Bulls were determined to bounce back on a tough road trip featuring the Chiefs, Brumbies and Rebels.
The Bulls exerted immense pressure from the outset through their lineout drive, creating two clear chances in the first five minutes.
The first was disallowed when they were held up over the tryline and the second was ruled out due to obstruction in the lead up.
The home side were lucky to be level pegging at 3-3 before Lolagi Visinia sent them ahead with a spectacular individual try.
The Blues fullback picked up a clearing kick from Handre Pollard near the half-way line and raced past four defenders to score between the posts.
The Bulls hit back through Serfontein after Pollard found a gap and offloaded to the centre as he stormed towards the line at full pace.
Yet the Pretoria-based side went into the breakdown 16-13, despite enjoying 72 percent of territory and 58 percent of possession in the first 40 minutes.
They were less wasteful after the re-start, breaking down the left wing at lightning speed as the ball passed through six pairs of hands for Serfontein to get his second try.
But they were forced into desperate defending as the Blues regrouped, eventually conceding when George Moala powered over.
Down 23-18 in the final minutes, the Bulls worked the ball into a good attacking position but threw away their momentum, and the game, through a needless penalty.
Scorers:
Blues 23 (16). Tries: George Moala, Lolagi Visinia. Conversions: Ihaia West (2). Penalties: West (3).
Vodacom Bulls 18 (13). Tries: Jan Serfontein (2). Conversion: Handre Pollard. Penalties: Pollard (2).
Courtesy of The Bulls
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