Champion Bulls back with a win

The Bulls started the defence of their Super 14 title with a hard-earned 16-9 win over the Stormers in a dramatic and bruising encounter at Newlands on Saturday.

Trailing 0-9 after 30 minutes, the Bulls scored 16 unanswered points - including the game's only try - to show their intent.

However, they will be sweating over the injury suffered by International Rugby Board Player of the Year Brian Habana, who damaged his shoulder in going over for that try.

When the Bulls were penalised for a swinging arm, Peter Grant was short from two metres inside his own half. But when Danie Rossouw plodded clumsily into the side, Grant made it 3-0 after five minutes.

Battering

Two line-outs and a scrum later, the Bulls were battering at the line. Somehow the Stormers got away and were the next to score when Habana was off-side and Grant again goaled.

Tiaan Liebenberg went on a bullocking run at the Bulls' line. Gcobani Bobo surged over. The referee spoke to the television match official who advised that the ball had been held up. This became a five-metre scrum to the Stormers but the Bulls held - for a while till the Bulls infringed at a tackle and Grant made it 9-0 after 27 minutes.

The Bulls launched their second big attack. from a five-metre line-out, they battered at the Stormers line. Fourie du Preez was close and so were others. The Stormers seemed to have got the ball but the Bulls bashed it back and then sent Habana sweeping in at the left corner. Derick Hougaard converted from touch.

So half-time came with the Stormers leading 9-7. It was a half in which the Stormers had enjoyed the better of territory and possession.

Anger

The Bulls threatened early in the second half as Hougaard kicked them into a good position and when Fijian Sireli Naqelevuki tackled John Mametsa dangerously, provoking anger in the ranks of the Bulls, Hougaard goaled the angled kick to give the Bulls the lead for the first time.

When Schalk Burger tackled high, Hougaard again took his time through the booing to goal and make the score 13-9, after which the wrestling became even more frantic. Time and again it was the Stormers' handling which wrecked their best intentions.

When Hougaard goaled yet again, it seemed the Stormers were blown out. But nobody had told Gio Aplon. Suddenly he broke, skating through acres of open field, chipping over Zane Kirschner and gathering the ball, only to he scythed down with the line just there. The Stormers were given a free kick but never looked like breaching that hard-nosed defence.