Bulls edge Pau 26-24 in dramatic clash at Hameau

Section Paloise 24-26 Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau

Section Paloise suffered a narrow 26-24 defeat to the Vodacom Bulls in a fiercely contested Champions Cup encounter at the Stade du Hameau, with the South African side snatching victory late despite a spirited performance from the hosts.

Pau arrived with confidence after their win in Llanelli and carried that momentum into a bruising contest against a physically imposing Bulls side. The visitors struck first after three minutes, with Mpilo Gumede finishing in the corner to take an early 5-0 lead but Handre Pollard missed out on the conversion.

The Green and Whites responded with sustained pressure and long attacking phases. From a penalty lineout, a powerful driving maul allowed Youri Delhommel to cross for Pau’s opening try, giving the hosts a 7-5 advantage.

The match quickly turned into a battle of forward dominance, and the Bulls regained the lead through a maul of their own, with Akker van der Merwe powering over to make it 12-7 around the half hour mark.

Pau hit back immediately. Jimi Maximin finished off a flowing move to restore the lead, before another dominant maul just before the break saw Delhommel complete his brace. Pau went into half-time leading 21-12 after an intense first half.

Rain arrived after the restart, increasing the tension and physicality. Pau controlled territory and possession but struggled to turn pressure into points. The Bulls struck on the counter through Jooste to close the gap to 24-19.

As the final quarter unfolded, the Bulls laid siege to the Pau line. Under sustained pressure, Pau conceded penalties, and a yellow card for Thomas Laclayat further tilted momentum. With seven minutes remaining, the Bulls forced their way over to retake the lead at 26-24.

Pau pushed hard in the closing stages and camped inside the Bulls’ 22, but the visitors defended resolutely to hold on.