By SABC Sport
30th November 2024
The Bulls established early dominance, scoring twice in the first half.
Sebastian de Klerk crossed in the left corner after a maul break by Embrose Papier, while Papier himself added another try following a turnover and a clever in-field kick from Canan Moodie.
Johan Goosen's flawless conversions gave the visitors a commanding 14-0 halftime lead.
The second half saw more brilliance from the Bulls. David Kriel's dummy move paved the way for a try under the posts, followed by Moodie's interception of Jack Carty's pass to secure the bonus point. Goosen added conversions to extend the lead to 28-0.
Connacht rallied in the final quarter, with David Hawkshaw powering under the posts and Caolin Blade finishing after Shane Jennings' break. Both tries were converted by Cathal Forde, showcasing Connacht's resilience.
However, the game was marred by two red cards. Connacht's Sean Jansen was dismissed in the 21st minute for a reckless elbow to Marcell Coetzee's head, and Mpilo Gumede of the Bulls was sent off later for a controversial off-the-ball incident involving David Hawkshaw.
Embrose Papier was named Player of the Match for his pivotal contributions.