Bulls break hearts of brave Force

A brave Western Force side made all the running, scored three tries to one and overcame two second-half yellow cards but the Bulls escaped with a last gasp 25-24 Super Rugby win at Loftus Versfeld.

A near 60m penalty conversion from Sias Ebersohn with two minutes remaining had the Force leading 24-22 and appearing to have done enough for a season-saving win.

However, hooker Nathan Charles was penalised for a dangerous tackle and Handre Pollard nailed his sixth penalty of the game to give the Bulls the one-point win.

The Force started the season so impressively beating the defending champion Waratahs in Sydney, but have now lost five straight since.

The visitors did a terrific job with the first two tries through Adam Coleman and Sam Wykes to lead 14-9 early in the second half, but the Bulls’ ruck advantage soon came into play.

Coleman and then fellow secondrower Tetera Faulkner received yellow cards in quick succession and, in that time, the Bulls crossed for their only try to Marcel van der Merwe.

Shortly after regaining their sin-binned players, the Force added another try to Kyle Godwin and then hit the lead with Ebersohn’s long-range before Pollard’s last-minute goal gave the South Africans a third straight win.

Just 12 minutes in, Coleman timed a run through a gap with halfback Alby Mathewson’s pass a beauty to see him score his first Super Rugby try.

Pollard’s boot had the Bulls in front, though, until stand-in captain Wykes scored a remarkable second-half try for the Force.

Luke Burton’s missed penalty hit the upright and bounced into the arms of the Bulls’ Jacques du Plessis.

Wykes was able to tackle him, steal the ball and then cross for a stunning try.

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