Bulls Edge Edinburgh 19-17 in URC Comeback

In a gritty comeback at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh, the Vodacom Bulls edged out the home side 19-17 in the United Rugby Championship on Friday night, securing back-to-back away victories and breathing new life into their season.

The Bulls, who had endured seven straight defeats before this tour, trailed 17-5 at halftime after Edinburgh capitalized on an explosive first period. The Scottish team raced ahead with three unanswered tries: wing Duhan van der Merwe powered through two defenders in the sixth minute following an offload from Harry Paterson; prop Pierre Schoeman, a former Bull, forced his way over five minutes after the visitors leveled the score; and fellow prop D'Arcy Rae crashed under the posts shortly before the break. Flyhalf Ross Thompson converted only Rae's try, leaving the hosts with a 12-point cushion.

Edinburgh's strong start was fueled by a rested lineup, as head coach Sean Everitt held back key players including Schoeman, Magnus Bradbury, Liam McConnell, and Wes Goosen for the previous week's Champions Cup match against Bath, which they survived despite a heavy loss. Van der Merwe, returning from hip and calf injuries, marked his first try in over three...