LOFTUS STUNNER AS BRISTOL RUN WILD

In a Champions Cup pool clash that will be talked about for weeks, the Bristol Bears ran riot against the Vodacom Bulls, leaving Loftus Versfeld in stunned silence as they claimed a thrilling 61–49 victory in Pretoria.

It was a game packed with tries, drama and unanswered questions for the Bulls and one that firmly cemented Bristol’s place in the knockout stages of the competition.

From the opening whistle, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a usual slog in the South African heat. Bristol exploded out of the blocks, racing into a 21–0 lead inside eight minutes thanks to an early score from Benhard Janse van Rensburg and further tries from Max Lahiff and Noah Heward, the latter going over for a first-half hat-trick as the Bears’ attack tore into the Bulls’ defensive line.

Bristol’s relentless pace saw them cross the line nine times, piling on pressure and racking up points with precision.

By halftime, they were comfortably ahead 47–28. Although the Bulls fought back with seven tries of their own, including scores from Stravino Jacobs (2), Jeandre Rudolph, David Kriel, Sebastian de Klerk and veteran Willie le Roux, it wasn’t quite enough to reel in the visitors.

The Bulls’ defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed throughout the contest. Missed tackles, broken alignment and a lack of cohesion on a sweltering Loftus pitch allowed Bristol to dictate the pace and keep their unbeaten run alive.

A yellow card for Le Roux in the second half didn’t help matters, as the Bears capitalised to push their tally beyond 60 points.

The Bears dominated, booked their spot in the last 16 and left Pretoria buzzing about one of the most entertaining matches of the season.

Image credit: Sky Sports