URC attendance record smashed at packed Loftus

URC chiefs confirmed a record crowd of 41,205 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the biggest attendance for a league game in South Africa to date.

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It was the biggest attendance for a URC league game in the country for what turned out to be a titanic brawl. And it all created a fantastic opportunity as the defending champions overcame a 12-3 deficit to win 23-19.

They claimed tries through backline men Marcel Theunissen and Junior Pokomela, with fly-half Manie Libbok notching five shots on goal, while the Bulls’ only touchdown came from winger Sbu Nkosi.

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Preview of SA derbies: URC (round 14)

Commenting on his side’s crucial URC win, Stormers coach John Dobson said: “I’m very proud of the character the team has shown. We knew the level of motivation and desperation for this match and that the first 20, 30 minutes would be really difficult.

“At 12-3 we were under the pump but the way we stayed in the fight, took the lead at halftime and then started the second half was magic – and then the character at the end . That’s what this team is, what happened in those last 10 minutes, and I’m so proud of them. We were defending so well. There was just this desperation to defend to win.

On his side’s next URC challenge, Dobson added: “We have the Sharks next game and if we get it right we’ll have a full sweep of the local derbies which would be great for us.

“We probably need another win from the last four games to get the SA Shield, which

I am sure we will get there and it is important for us. “You want to be the best team in South Africa and we’re getting very close to that, given our results. If we can win the Shield two years in a row, it will be a great victory for this union and the team.

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In the other South African derby, the Sharks pulled away in the second half to claim a 29-7 win with URC bonus points over the Lions in Johannesburg and maintain their bid for a playoff spot.

Flyhalf Curwin Bosch contributed 17 points, including the first of their four tries. The Sharks now turn their attention to next Saturday’s rearranged encounter with Ulster in Durban, while the Lions host Glasgow.

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