DAVID SHAPSHAK, Pretoria | Saturday 7.00pm.
THE Cats withstood a late onslaught beat the Northern Bulls 23-19 in their first Super 12 match at Loftus in Pretoria on Saturday, after leading 13-9 at the break.
But apart from the frantic last quarter, it was game of good commitment that was undone with the same old nemesis that has plagued these two sides, unforced handling errors and turn-overs.
This traditional derby between South Africa’s two northern rugby unions — formerly known as Transvaal and Northern Transvaal – didn’t produced much running rugby as both sides played conservative multi-phase play up the centre.
The game was evenly balanced in possession and territorial position, until Cats fullback Kobus Engelbrecht opened up the scoring with two early penalties. The man of the match then set up and converted flyhalf Hennie le Roux’s try, the game’s first after a tense half hour.
New Bulls import Jannie de Beer scored three first half penalties, to trail the Cats 13-9 at half time.
But ten minutes after the break, the Bulls took the lead for the first time when a superb counter attack began in their own 22 and ended with centre Tiaan Joubert crossing. Springbok flyhalf De Beer converted.
But the lead swung back when the replacement Cats winger Jannie van der Walt scored and the exciting Engelbrecht converted.
Louis Koen, Le Roux’s second half replacement, assured the win with a drop goal – something that eluded De Beer, the five drop world record holder, Le Roux and Bulls fullback Jorrie Kruger.
It was a good Super 12 debut as Cats coach for former All Black mentor Laurie Mains, but bad news for Bulls captain Ruben Kruger who left the field hobbling on the ankle that cost him his Springbok place a few years ago.