User talk:Bullsfan

Bulls nailed! by Lynston Manuels Friday, March 17, 2006 - 21:38

http://www.bluebull.co.za/default.asp?des=article&id=173672&scat=

Akona Ndungane brilliantly followed up a grubber The Vodacom Bulls succumbed to the Hurricanes 23-26 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday in one of the worst refereeing performances in the tournament. The first half hardly delivered breathtaking rugby, except for the opening minutes, when Akona Ndungane brilliantly followed up a grubber kick for the only try of the half. The Bulls then built on their lead with two penalties, but the Hurricanes started to fight back with three penalties of their own to go into the break at 13-9 down.

The Bulls committed far too many unforced errors, especially when they were on the attack. The Hurricanes attacked from all corers nearly caused havoc on a couple occasions.

The match will no doubt be remembered for the Australian referee, George Ayoub’s whistle. The Bulls have had the best disciplinary record in the competition thus far, but Ayoub found fault with almost everything and punished the Bulls relentlessly. He could find no fault with the visitors’ wanton high tackles.

Another penalty early in the second half brought the Hurricanes within one point of the home side and they started looking more and more dangerous on the attack. The Bulls, however, scored their second try against the run of play with a trademark intercept effort by Bryan Habana.

Hardly a minute later, Ndungane looked to have delivered the clincher when the Bulls launched a brilliant counter attack and the captain, Victor Matfield, kicked the perfect grubber for Ndungane. Ndungane fell on the ball, but the television referee, Lynston Manuels, seemingly felt that he should emulate Ayoub’s standard and did not award the try.

The Hurricanes made full use of their good fortune and scored their first try through replacement Shannon Paku, incidentally also through a grubber. As the penalties continued to mount, the Hurricanes drove over for their second try to lead for the first time. That proved to be enough as the final whistle came too soon for the Bulls.