Bulls book their play-off spot

MATCH REPORT: The unbeaten Bulls cemented their place at the top of the Currie Cup standings and booked their place in the semifinals, with a bonus-point 47-24 rout of Griquas.

The visitors from Kimberley were willing and, for large parts, competitive – especially in the first half.

However, once the Bulls shifted up in gears, Griquas could not stay with the Pretoria team.

The visitors were the more energetic and accurate of the two teams, a plethora of amateur errors costing the home team dearly in the opening quarter – a period in which the home team conceded 10 turnovers.

When they did eventually awake from their slumber, the Bulls scored three tries in a seven-minute blitz to stop Griquas’ onslaught.

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Griquas got off to a flying start – flank Marco de Witt splitting the Bulls’ defence and ran 50 metres for a sublime individualistic score. Flyhalf Zinedine Robinson added the conversion – 7-0 after two minutes.

Dylan Maart put the visitors further ahead when he collected a ball that Stravino Jacobs let bounce, with the Griquas wing on point. The Robinson conversion made it 14 after 16 minutes.

That finally saw the Bulls awake from their early game slumber. Flyhalf Jaco van der Walt went over in the left corner, after a well-executed move down the blindside – Mpilo Gumede giving the scoring pass. Van der Walt added the conversion.

That was quickly followed by a Chris Barend Smit try, after hooker Joe van Zyl busted through the defence. Van der Walt’s conversion levelled the scores at 14-all, with 25 minutes gone.

The Bulls were now on fire – Henry Immelman scoring the third try after some great hands, including some great deception by Devon Williams, created just enough space for the left wing. This time Van der Walt could not add the conversion, but the Bulls were finally in the lead – 19-14, on the half-hour mark.

No.8 Mpilo Gumede went from try-creator to try-scorer – picking up from a ruck close to the line and plunging over for the bonus-point score. Van der Walt was back on target – 26-14 after 38 minutes.

There was enough time for one last score – Griquas flank Thabo Ndimande going over from close range after nearly 20 forward raids inside the Bulls’ 22. The conversion attempt was wide – leaving the Bulls with a seven-point (26-19) lead at half-time.

The Bulls got the second half underway in a more clinical fashion than they started the first – Gumede coming on a great angle from a ruck deep inside Griquas’ 22 to get his second try. Van der Walt added the conversion – 33-19.

Griquas worked hard to get back into the game, but found the Bulls’ defensive lines near impenetrable.

On the hour mark – after more than 10 minutes of banging away at the blue wall – Dylan Maart went over in the right corner. However, the TMO found a forward pass in the build-up and the try was ruled out.

In response the Bulls produced a monster maul – replacement hooker Juan Else getting the armchair ride over the line. Replacement flyhalf Henry Chamberlain added the conversion – 40-19 after 63 minutes.

Griquas continued chasing the game and bonus points, with fullback Connor Mahoney going over in the 67th minute. Again the TMO came into play – finding yet another forward pass.

With 10 minutes remaining Maart eventually got his second try, some sublime hands opening space for him down the right wing. The conversion was wide – 24-40, but with at least one bonus point in the bank.

The Bulls’ riposte was quick and decisive, Else getting his second try by charging over from close range. Chamberlain added the conversion – 47-24, with five minutes remaining.

With Griquas now playing for pride only, Bulls replacement Merwe Olivier was yellow-carded for repeated infringements and they set up a line-out near the Bulls line.

However, the game ended with a whimper – a Griquas knock-on and a Bulls victory, 47-24.

Man of the match: In the Griquas backline Dylan Maart and captain Sango Xamlashe were impressive, flank Marco de Witt and lock Dylan Sjoblom also did not let their team down. Keagan Johannes, captain Nizaam Carr, along with locks Jannes Kirsten and Cyle Brink were among the most impressive Bulls. Our award goes to Bulls No.8 Celimpilo Gumede – an all-action performance that saw him make a game-topping 12 carries for 112 metres, 12 tackles and two tries.

The scorers

For the Bulls
Tries: Van der Walt, Chris Smit, Immelman, Gumede 2, Else 2
Cons: Van der Walt 4, Chamberlain 2

For Griquas
Tries: De Witt, Maart 2, Ndimande
Cons: Robinson 2

Yellow card: Merwe Olivier (Bulls, 81 – repeated infringements, playing the scrumhalf)

Teams

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Henry Immelman, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Celimpilo Gumede, 7 Mihlali Mosi, 6 Nizaam Carr (captain), 5 Jannes Kirsten, 4 Cyle Brink, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Tielman Nieuwoudt.
Replacements: 16 Juan Else, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Merwe Olivier, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Henry Chamberlain, 23 Katlego Letebele.

Griquas: 15 Connor Mahoney, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Zinedine Robinson, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Dandré Delport, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Janu Botha, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Jac van der Walt, 21 Xavier Swartbooi, 22 Tylor Sefoor, 23 Zane Bester.

Referee: AJ Jacobs
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen

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