Brumbies sink Bulls with last-gasp try
A last-minute try from captain Stirling Mortlock lifted the ACT Brumbies to a 27-21 victory over the Northern Bulls in their Super 14 match played in Cape Town overnight.
Victory in the fiercely fought clash lifted the visitors to the top of the Super 14 table with eight points, two more than the second-placed home team.
The Bulls had looked set for a second consecutive win in the expanded competition after clawing their way into a one-point lead with three minutes left when fly half Derick Hougaard landed a penalty from inside his half.
But one last attack from the more creative Brumbies saw replacement back Joel Wilson and centre Matt Giteau set up centre Mortlock, who brushed aside wing Akona Ndungane and dived over near the post.
Mortlock contributed 17 points by converting his try, those of South Africa-born wing Clyde Rathbone and flank Daniel Heenan, and kicking two penalties.
Hougaard kicked six penalties and dropped a goal in first-half stoppage time to give the Bulls a 12-10 half-time advantage before a crowd of 41,650 at Loftus Versfeld.
"It was an extremely tough game in a cauldron where the Bulls always rise to the occasion and we almost gave it away. Flanker George Smith kept us in the game during the opening half," Mortlock said.
"A Brumbies strength is unstructured attacking and I believe we did it well during the second half. This is a great win and we can definitely build from here."
Visibly downcast, Bulls scrum-half Fourie du Preez was a man of few words: "We made too many mistakes and kicked the ball too often. I'm disappointed because we should have won."
With a 38-kilogram weight advantage, the Bulls pack provided the platform for early pressure and after Hougaard missed a drop goal attempt, he landed a seventh-minute penalty.
Brumbies tight-head prop Nic Henderson had to retire midway through the first half after colliding with Bulls lock Bakkies Botha following a line-up and Guy Stephenson took his place in the front row.
Mortlock, who has broken South African hearts numerous times at Test and inter-provincial level, restored equality from a penalty before Hougaard was successful with two kicks at goal to give the Bulls a 9-3 advantage.
A Giteau break took him past three Bulls players and set up Rathbone for a try in the corner that Mortlock converted with a superb kick before the Hougaard drop goal put the Bulls back in front.
Mortlock and Hougaard exchanged early penalties in the second half to maintain their 100 per cent place kicking records before the home side's line was breached again with Heenan going over far out after slick handling.
Another Mortlock conversion put the Brumbies 20-15 ahead before two more Hougaard penalties raised hopes of a home win that were dashed by the tall Australian centre.
It was a deserved success for Brumbies, who displayed far more flair, made fewer unforced errors, and wore down the 911-kilogram Bulls pack in the second half.
View the Original Article - ABC
