Bulls maintain winning momentum
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The Bulls ended the Cheetahs unbeaten run this year with a 39-20 victory at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The loss is the Cheetahs first this season and ends a three match winning streak in Bloemfontein.
The Bulls outscored the Cheetahs by three tries to two and led almost throughout the contest.
Handre Pollard had an exceptional game for the Bulls as he achieved a full house in scoring with a try, five penalties, thee conversion and a drop goal.
Following a victory against the Sharks last weekend, Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard spearheaded the Bulls to their second Super Rugby win this season.
The Cheetahs started well, with flyhalf Joe Pietersen slotting a penalty goal in the fourth minute as the Bulls flank Deon Stegmann got pinned for hands in the ruck.
Their joy was shortlived as wing Raymond Rhule was sin-binned shortly afterwards for taking out Bulls fullback Jesse Kriel in the air.
Pollard, who scored 29 points on the day, levelled the scores with a penalty in the 12th minute and scored the first try of the match which he converted.
He kicked another penalty to add to the Cheetahs woes, before Pietersen also got a shot at the posts, which he used to narrow the gap to 13-6.
Bulls wing Bjorn Basson scored a try shortly before half time, which Pollard converted and, after slotting another penalty, the visitors went into the break with a 23-6 lead.
The Cheetahs started the second half strongly and, only three minutes in, Rhule made amends for his yellow card by scoring a much-needed try for the hosts, which Pietersen converted.
Pollard stretched the gap again kicking a penalty in the 55th minute, but a good driving maul in the 60th minute led to a try for flank Johannes Prinsloo to bring the Cheetahs within striking distance.
Pietersen's successful conversion meant the hosts trailed by only six points with 20 minutes to play.
But Pollard slotted another penalty and drop goal and when Bulls centre Jan Serfontein broke through for his try in the 71st minute, which Pollard converted, the Bulls could not be denied an emphatic win.
The Bulls will now return home to Pretoria as they have a bye next week and then host the Western Force while the Cheetahs remain at home for a match against the Sharks in Bloemfontein.
Man of the match: For the Cheetahs Johannes Prinsloo looked lively, but was not always effective, while Teboho Mohojoe looked impressive. Coenie Oosthuizen could easily have been the man of the match – scrummed and carried well, worked hard at the breakdown and on defense. However, the real General of the game was Bulls flyhalf Handre Pollard who was totally in control of everything he did.
Scorers:
For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Rhule, Prinsloo
Cons: Pietersen 2
Pens: Pietersen 2
For the Bulls:
Tries: Pollard, Basson, Serfontein
Cons: Pollard 3
Pens: Pollard 5
DG: Pollard
Yellow Card: Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs, 6 – foul play, playing a jumper in the air)
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Joe Petersen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jean Cook, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Danie Mienie.
Replacements: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 BG Uys, 18 Nicolaas van Dyk, 19 Tienie Burger, 20 Steven Sykes, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Willie du Plessis, 23 Johann Sadie.
Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Morné Mellett.
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Grant Hattingh, 20 Hanro Liebenberg, 21 Tian Schoeman, 22 Piet van Zyl, 23 Jurgen Visser.
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden, Lourens van der Merwe
TMO: Johan Greeff
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