Scarlets displayed their signature attacking prowess in Pretoria, briefly leveling a frantic United Rugby Championship encounter at 26-26 in the second half. The visitors staged a spirited response to an early 19-0 deficit, with John McKee and Sam Lousi crossing to ignite a comeback that kept the match alive. However, the searing South African heat ultimately took its toll on the Welsh side, allowing the Bulls to dominate the final quarter and secure a decisive 54-26 victory in a contest that featured a record-breaking 12 tries.
Pretoria heat breaks Scarlets’ comeback as Bulls seal 54-26 victory in frantic URC clash
The Bulls controlled the opening exchanges, with Jeandre Rudolph, Willie le Roux, and Dylan Maart all finding the try line to establish a commanding lead. Despite the early pressure, Scarlets refused to fold, with Archie Hughes and Joe Roberts providing crucial momentum. Roberts, in particular, continued his impressive form with his fourth try in two games, a performance that has caught the eye of Wales head coach Steve Tandy. Hughes’ score was pivotal, securing a bonus point for Scarlets and forcing the hosts to regroup before the final stretch.
In the closing stages, the Bulls reasserted their dominance, with Dylan Maart and Coetzee adding two tries each to extend their lead. De Klerk and Grobbelaar completed the scoring for Pretoria, while Bosch’s seven penalties provided the necessary points to close out the game. For Scarlets, the match highlighted their resilience and ball-in-hand capability, but the physical and environmental challenges of the away fixture proved too great to overcome in the dying minutes.
Source: Yahoo Sports
