Scarlets Rally to Defeat Bulls in URC Clash

Cataleya

October 19, 2024 · 1 min read

Scarlets Rally to Defeat Bulls in URC Clash
Other Sports | October 19, 2024
Tom Rogers (C) hopes to have impressed Wales coach Warren Gatland, who attended Parc y Scarlets to watch the Welsh side's victory. (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Scarlets secured a notable 25-24 victory over the Bulls in a thrilling United Rugby Championship (URC) match at Llanelli where the Bulls played with just 14 men for the final quarter. Tom Rogers clinched the win with a late try, capping off an impressive comeback from a 19-7 deficit. Earlier, Scarlets’ captain Josh Macleod and wing Blair Murray also scored showcasing the team’s resilience after the Bulls had dominated the first half with tries from Canan Moodie, Zak Burger and Kurt-Lee Arendse.

The match took a pivotal turn when Bulls replacement hooker Johan Grobbelaar received a red card in the 67th minute for a dangerous tackle on Marnus van der Merwe. This allowed Scarlets to capitalize on their numerical advantage. They initially struggled trailing at halftime but regrouped effectively. Scarlets started the second half strong, with Lloyd facilitating a try from Murray to narrow the score.

Despite a penalty from Bulls’ Boeta Chamberlain, the Scarlets remained focused. After Grobbelaar’s dismissal, Scarlets began to mount consistent pressure culminating in Rogers’ decisive try which gave them a one-point lead that they managed to hold onto. Scarlets’ head coach Dwayne Peel praised his team’s performance, highlighting their strategic kicking game and resilience in defense.

Bulls’ coach Jake White while critical of the red card decision, acknowledged his team’s failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities, noting that they had been good enough to win prior to the dismissal. This victory marks a significant moment, as it is the team’s first home win since March and their second consecutive victory this season.