Stormers end drought at soaked Loftus

Jurie Matthee kicked 14 points as the Stormers ended a four-game losing streak with a narrow win against the Vodacom Bulls in inclement conditions in Pretoria on Saturday.

Having fought to a 12-9 half-time lead, the Stormers matched their rivals in the second half to seal an enthralling 19-16 victory in the weather-delayed North-South derby at Loftus Versfeld.

The result dents the Bulls’ SA Shield defence while reigniting the Stormers’ Vodacom URC playoff hopes, boosting their bid for a place among the top eight teams ahead of their next match against Scarlets on 22 March.

The clash marked the last local derby for the traditional rivals this season, the table-topping Bulls looking to capitalise on the Sharks’ heavy defeat by the Lions earlier in Johannesburg in the race for the SA Shield, while the Stormers were out to make amends for their defeat to Jake White’s men two weeks ago at Cape Town Stadium.

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The opening 40 minutes at Loftus was a tight, tactical battle as Matthee and David Kriel traded early penalties before a heavy hit from Stormers prop Neethling Fouche forced Bulls winger Canan Moodie off, and Sergeal Petersen on, inside the first quarter.

The Stormers dominated territory but struggled to capitalise, even with Bulls playmaker Willie le Roux in the sin bin for 10 minutes after seeing yellow for cynical play at the breakdown.

Kriel’s boot briefly gave the Bulls a 9-6 lead but Matthee responded twice from the kicking tee to put the visitors back in front, while flanker Marco van Staden’s substitution due to a suspected leg injury forced a Bulls back-row reshuffle before the half-time hooter.

Bulls utility forward Cobus Wiese limped off soon after the restart before a close to a scrappy third quarter saw substitute Ruan Vermaak barge over for the first try, with Kriel converting to put the Bulls ahead 16-12.

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TRY! The @Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby cross the line and take the lead in a slippery battle at Loftus 👀#BULvSTO | @Vodacom #URC | #OriginRound pic.twitter.com/9WS12A6cKY

— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) March 1, 2025

Former Bulls star Wandisile Simelane hit back for the Stormers in the 67th minute, regathering a kick to score and restore the Stormers’ lead at 19-16.

A late Matthee penalty miss kept the game on a knife’s edge, but No 8 and Man of the Match Evan Roos won a crucial breakdown penalty, allowing the Stormers to seal victory with a lineout exit.

The Bulls and Stormers now have a two-week break before the Herd host Irish giants Leinster at Loftus on 22 March, while the men from Cape Town travel to Wales to face Scarlets.