Stormers skipper Duane Vermeulen has blocked a late drop-goal attempt by Bulls Handre Pollard to help his team win a pulsating Super 15 clash 15-13 at Newlands.
Bulls were pressing hard deep in Stormers territory to wipe out a two-point deficit as time ticked away.
Then opportunity knocked for the Pretoria outfit when Pollard received the ball in a favourable drop-goal position just outside the 22-metre line.
But current Springbok No. 8 Vermeulen charged at the fly-half, blocked his kick, and hacked the ball to safety.
It was the Bulls’ last chance as they finished the match disappointingly with a post-siren clearance kick from Jesse Kriel snapped up by rival full-back Cheslin Kolbe, who booted the ball into touch.
Victory lifted the Stormers to third on the combined southern hemisphere inter-provincial championship standings while the Bulls slipped to fifth.
Hyped for days as a classic South African derby, the match lived up to expectations.
There was only one try – Bulls left-wing Bjorn Basson scoring after a wonderful counter-attack – but the match offered much for the near-capacity crowd.
Fly-half Demetri Catrakilis succeeded with all five penalty kicks for the Stormers, who dominated possession and territory for much of the opening half and turned over 12-3 ahead.
Rival playmaker Pollard slotted two penalties, converted the Basson try, and saw an ambitious 50-metre angled shot at goal drift right of the far post.
“A huge crowd, a wonderful atmosphere and a Stormers victory — what more do you want?” asked Vermeulen.
“It was a massive occasion and we were lucky to come out on top. I knew it was going to be tough and I am thrilled that we won.”
Bulls skipper and No. 8 Pierre Spies said: “I am proud of the way we fought back, having twice trailed by nine points during the opening half.
“We were often under pressure at scrum time, but we put the Stormers under pressure when it came to the line-outs.”
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