Satisfying weekend for SA teams as Vodacom URC returns with a bang

South Africa’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams had a largely satisfying weekend, with three out of four sides – the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and DHL Stormers – securing victories to boost their play-off hopes. The Emirates Lions, despite a narrow loss, managed to bag a losing bonus point to keep their top-eight aspirations alive.

Emirates Lions Go Down Fighting in Cardiff

The weekend kicked off on Friday with the Emirates Lions facing Cardiff at Cardiff Arms Park. Despite a valiant effort, the Lions fell short, losing 20-17 in a thrilling encounter. The Lions started strong, with Asenathi Ntlabakanye crossing for an early try in the 11th minute, but Cardiff responded, edging ahead 10-7 by halftime.

In the second half, the Lions showed resilience, with Gianni Lombard’s penalty goal and Francke Horn’s try putting them ahead 17-13. However, Cardiff capitalised on an intercept try and held firm in the closing minutes despite a yellow card for Lombard and a series of missed opportunities for the Lions. Although they couldn’t claim the win, the Lions earned a crucial losing bonus point that kept them in contention for the playoffs.

Late Try Sees Hollywoodbets Sharks Edge Zebre in Durban

Saturday was a dramatic day of action for the South African sides. The Hollywoodbets Sharks were pushed to their limits by Zebre Parma in a nail-biting 35-34 victory at Hollywoodbets Kings Park. The match saw nine tries – five from the Sharks and four from the Italians.

The Sharks got off to a strong start with early tries from Siya Kolisi and Jurenzo Julius, but Zebre quickly capitalised on some Sharks mistakes and fought their way into the lead. However, with the scoreline at 34-28 in Zebre's favour, the Sharks dug deep and secured a dramatic late try from Ethan Hooker, with Jordan Hendrikse's conversion sealing the victory.

While the Sharks celebrated the win, they will reflect on missed opportunities and scrappy play that allowed Zebre to take the lead at several points in the match. Nonetheless, the victory keeps them in the playoff hunt, just one point behind the Vodacom Bulls.

Vodacom Bulls Overcome Leinster in Thrilling Encounter

The Vodacom Bulls produced a spectacular performance at Loftus Versfeld, defeating log-leaders Leinster 21-20 in a thrilling match that handed the Irish side their first defeat of the season.

Leinster led 10-6 at halftime and extended their lead early in the second half with their second try. However, the Bulls bounced back with a penalty try, followed by a strong forward try from Johan Grobbelaar to take a one-point lead. With just minutes left, Leinster looked set to win after Ross Byrne kicked a late penalty to give them a 20-18 advantage, but the Bulls weren’t finished. After a late scrum penalty, David Kriel slotted the winning penalty, giving the Bulls a dramatic victory.

This crucial win not only kept the Bulls in third place but also boosted their chances of securing a top-two finish in the remaining pool rounds.

DHL Stormers Power to Bonus-Point Win Against Scarlets

The DHL Stormers capped off the weekend with a well-earned 29-17 bonus-point win over the Scarlets in Llanelli. The Stormers were dominant from the start, scoring two early tries through Ben Loader and Deon Fourie. Despite a strong fightback from the Scarlets, including a try in the 47th minute to close the gap to just one point, the Stormers stayed composed.

Leolin Zas and Andre-Hugo Venter added further tries, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu contributing with the boot. Although the Stormers were not as clinical as they would have liked, their five-point haul moved them into the top eight and kept them firmly in the race for a playoff spot.

Looking Ahead

With the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and DHL Stormers all registering crucial victories, South Africa’s teams are well-positioned to push for playoff spots in the Vodacom URC. The Emirates Lions, while disappointed with their loss, can take comfort in their bonus point, which may prove vital as they look to climb the standings in the final pool rounds.

As the competition intensifies, every point counts, and with just five rounds remaining, the stage is set for a thrilling finale to the regular season.