MAGNIFICENT GLASGOW WARRIORS FIGHT BACK TO STUN BULLS AT LOFTUS VERSFELD FOR FIRST UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Glasgow Warriors fought back from 13-0 down to beat the Bulls 21-16 and claim their first United Rugby Championship (URC) title after a gripping final at Loftus Versfeld.

Crossings from Scott Cummings, George Turner and Huw Jones were all converted by George Horne as the Warriors secured a famous triumph in South Africa on Saturday.

Marco van Staden scored the Bulls‘ only try of the game as Johan Goosen added points off the tee as the hosts came up short in the final for a second time in three seasons.

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A pair of Goosen penalties separated the sides before Van Staden’s try, converted by Goosen, gave the Bulls – beaten by the Stormers in the 2022 final – a 13-0 lead.

Glasgow hauled themselves back into the game on the stroke of half-time when Cummings powered his way over the line, with Horne adding the extras.

Goosen’s third penalty extended the Bulls’ lead to nine points but tries from Turner and Jones, both converted by Horne, ensured the Warriors would emerge triumphant.

The Bulls, who had lost only one of their last 12 URC matches at this venue, led inside 100 seconds through Goosen’s penalty.

A second successful kick followed before Wilco Louw was denied a try by the TMO, who deemed he was held up by Rory Darge.

But the Bulls were not to be denied moments later when Van Staden barged his way through the Glasgow defence, with Goosen landing the conversion.

Glasgow responded well and gave themselves a lifeline moments before the break when Cummings went over and Horne converted.

Buoyed by that score, Glasgow came out strong in the second half but another Goosen penalty brought some relief to the Bulls.

A few minutes later, though, the Warriors cut the deficit to just two points when Turner, on his last appearance for the club, went over from a maul, which Horne converted.

YOUR NEW #URC CHAMPIONS!! 🏆 #BULvGLA pic.twitter.com/PmSESvnFim

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Jones then grabbed Glasgow’s third try, with Horne again successful from the tee, to lead for the first time in the game before Jack Dempsey was denied another by the TMO.

Horne was just short with a long-range penalty attempt but Glasgow had to see out the final moments with 14 players after Tom Jordan was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Francois Klopper.

The Scottish side survived late Bulls pressure to be crowned champions.

The teams

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornel Smit

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn (c), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti

Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Assistant Referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland), Craig Evans (Wales)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

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2024-06-22T18:32:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd