The repeat of last season’s BKT URC final produced a ten-try thriller on a weekend when two matches fell foul of Storm Amy.
Back in June, Vodacom Bulls were outplayed as Leinster won out 32-7 at Croke Park to lift the league trophy.
Champions Leinster fought back from 22-10 down to lead midway through the second-half.
However, in the end, the Vodacom Bulls claimed the spoils with two-try centre David Kriel crossing late on to seal a victory which puts them on top of the table.
“It doesn’t matter what team Leinster sends to South Africa; they are always a quality outfit” said Kriel. “You can’t pitch up and just expect it’s going to happen, you have got to make it happen”.
“Luckily, the scoreboard was in our favour, but there is a lot to work on.”
It’s been a positive start to Johan Ackermann’s reign as head coach. The Bulls having secured the maximum ten points from their first two BKT URC games after beating the Ospreys 53-40 in Round 1.
“Our coach is big on battle words and one that stands out for me is grit. I think this group has grit” said Kriel.
Having scored 15 tries in the first two rounds; the Bulls now head out on tour to Europe with trips to Ulster, Connacht and Glasgow on successive weekends.
“We are going to go for all three games,” said Kriel. “We really want to win silverware this season. This tour is going to be the perfect test for that. We are really excited and hopefully everything works well in our favour.”
Fellow South Africans the DHL Stormers are just a point behind the Vodacom Bulls in the table. Stormers followed up their eye-catching win over Leinster by coming from behind to beat the Ospreys 26-10 in Cape Town.
Munster are also two from two having beaten Cardiff Rugby 23-20 at Limerick’s Thomond Park. The goal kicking of player-of-the-match Jack Crowley proving the difference between the sides.
There was a dramatic finish in Treviso with super sub Rhyno Smith landing a 40 metre drop goal with the last kick of the game to earn Benetton Rugby a 16-14 victory over Glasgow Warriors.
Indeed, Storm Amy, prevented the Edinburgh-Ulster and Connacht-Scarlets games going ahead.
Hat-trick starlet Bowen puts smiles on faces
Rising star Tom Bowen has been hailed as a “next level” finisher in the wake of his scintillating hat-trick for Cardiff against Munster.
The 20-year-old winger completed his second-half triple in the final play of the match at Limerick’s Thomond Park to earn Cardiff two bonus points from their 23-20 defeat.
After showing good pace to slide in for his opener, he then produced two stunning finishes, diving forward on the run to catch Callum Sheedy’s cross kick and scorching over in the last minute.
Dragons RFC also picked up two points from their 17-17 draw with Hollywoodbets Sharks.
Whereas, the Dragons have ended an 18-match losing run in the BKT URC.
There were tries from No.8 Aaron Wainwright and full-back O’Brien. Whereas, new Tongan backs Fetuli Paea and Fine Inisi both impressed on their first starts for the region.
In the only Sunday fixture, Zebre Parma made it two wins from two this season with some more late drama.
It looked like Morne Brandon had won it for the Lions in the 74th minute, before a try in the final moments from Matteo Nocera, converted by Martin Roger Farias, the Italian side claim a second successive win.
