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Spiteful opening Super 12: ACT Brumbies hold off South Africa's Bulls
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- Wallaby hooker Jeremy Paul scored a late try to clinch a 39-30 win for the ACT Brumbies over South Africa's Northern Bulls in a Super 12 rugby union match Saturday. The Brumbies, back home at Bruce Stadium after two weeks in South Africa, went to sleep late in the second half to squander an 18-point lead and allow the winless Bulls in for two late tries. The ACT ran in five tries to four and secured a bonus point, as did the Bulls. The Bulls, thrashed 53-7 by New South Wales last week and forced into eight changes, finally found some combination to give the overwhelming favorites a scare. After a spiteful opening in which both teams traded punches, the Brumbies raced away to an early 10-0 lead when fullback Andrew Walker grabbed on a long cutout pass from pivot Rod Kafer to cross under the posts for the first of two tries. The Bulls at times proved their own worst enemy, with flanker Anton Leonard and fly-half Boeta Wessels both earning spells in the sin-bin from New Zealand referee Steve Walsh for late tackles on Brumbies pivot Rod Kafer.
The home side, however, also suffered from a string of handling errors and showed only flashes of their usual attacking flair. For the visitors winger Freidrick Lombard duplicated Walker's effort and crossed for two tries, while center Adrian Jacobs and Leonard picked up the Bulls other five pointers. Fullback Marius Goosen kicked 10 points. The Brumbies' narrow win came at a price, with Wallaby wing Joe Roff forced off with a sprained ankle and Walker sidelined in the second half with a strained buttock. Scores: ACT 39 (Andrew Walker 2, Mark Bartholomeusz, Jeremy Paul, Owen Finigan tries; Stirling Mortlock 2 penalties, 4 conversions) def. NORTHERN BULLS 30 (Freidrick Lombard 2, Adrian Jacobs, Anton Leonard tries; Marius Goosen 2 penalties, 2 conversions)
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