Blue Bulls mow down Griquas with 8-try romp
The Blue Bulls have boosted their Currie Cup play-off chances with an emphatic 8-try bonus point 57-20 win over the Griquas at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday night after leading 24-13 at halftime.
The Blue Bulls have now moved into second place on the Currie Cup standings and just four points adrift of the pace-setting Free State Cheetahs.
It was all Bulls at the start and they produced several powerful sorties into the Griquas 22m area but once they spilt the ball just short of the tryline, Griquas staged a breakout that led to the opening try in the match. A kick ahead by Griquas flyhalf Elgar Watts was collected by the pacy leftwing Alshaun Bock (5-0).
Griquas inside centre Clinton Swart landed the conversion from the touchline and four minutes later he was on target to give his side a 10-0 lead, much against the run of play.
The Bulls responded with a fine passage of play that produced three unanswered tries in just 10 minutes. Flank Clinton Swart barged over after shaking off three would-be tacklers in the 16th minute, and three minutes later leftwing Jamba Ulengo was next in.
Lock Rudolph Snyman grabbed the third try in the 26th minute and Tian Schoeman converted all three tries.
Just ahead of the halftime break Schoeman and Swart each added a penalty to round the first half scoring at 24-13, which allowed the Bulls to enjoy a mere 11-point lead even though they enjoyed a massive 72% possession advantage.
Mzwanele Zito, the Griquas lock, was yellow-carded two minutes ahead of the break.
One minute into the second half, the Bulls crossed for their bonus-point try through scrumhalf Piet van Zyl and the touchdown went unconverted (29-13).
This try seemed to take whatever wind was left in the Griqua sails and effectively ended the match as a contest.
Snyman was yellow-carded 45th minute but this did not stop the Bulls from adding to their tally a few minutes later with a converted try by fullback Ulrich Beyers (36-13).
There were three more tries for the Bulls by Van Zyl, a penalty try and substitute Bjorn Basson.
For Griquas, substitute Wandile Putuma bagged a second try.
Scorers: Blue Bulls 57 (24): Tries: Nick de Jager, Jamba Ulengo, Rudolph Snyman Piet van Zyl (2), Ulrich Beyers, penalty try, Bjorn Basson. Conversions: Tian Schoeman (7) Penalty: Schoeman
Griquas 20 (13): Tries: Alshaun Bock, Wandile Putuma. Conversions: Clinton Swart (2). Penalties: Swart (2)