Saints skin Bulls at Loftus

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The Vodacom Bulls' 2024-25 Investec Champions Cup campaign suffered a second blow after going down to the Northampton Saints in Pretoria on Saturday.

England winger Tommy Freeman scored a brace of tries as the Saints converted a 12-7 half-time lead into a 30-21 victory at Loftus Versfeld in round 2 of the EPCR competition.

Looking to bounce back after an opening round loss to Saracens in London, the Bulls were outscored four tries to three with matches remaining of the pool stages.

Two first-half tries from replacement fullback George Hendy and SA-born No 8 Juarno Augustus and a Fin Smith conversion powered the visitors in front, with a converted score from veteran flanker Marcell Coetzee keeping the home side within touching distance at the break.

The Bulls drew first blood inside the opening 10 minutes and after the restart through Devon Williams and Canan Moodie, but both their tries were ruled out following intervention from the TMO.

The Saints kicked off the second stanza with 14 men due to a yellow card for loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun following repeated team infringements.

Yet the English outfit navigated the numerical disadvantage with aplomb, and their determination was rewarded when Freeman dotted down as the match entered the final quarter. Smith added the extras to go with the first of his two penalties in the half.

The powerful Cameron Hanekom crossed the whitewash in the 61st and 70th minutes for the Bulls, and Johan Goosen made no mistake from in front of the uprights, to narrow the gap with time winding down on the clock.

But Freeman completed his double at the death to hammer the nail into the coffin of Jake White's charges at Loftus.

The Bulls will now refocus for a trip to Durban next Saturday to face the Sharks at Kings Park in round 8 of the Vodacom URC, while the Saints return to Premiership action against Saracens on Sunday.

The post Saints skin Bulls at Loftus appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.