Bulls see off ill-disciplined Province
MATCH REPORT: The Bulls returned to the top of the Currie Cup table with a 45-34 win over the Western Province at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.
*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!
With the unbeaten Cheetahs enjoying a bye, the defending champions grabbed the lead courtesy of a six-try triumph to move to 30 points on the log.
They are now four points clear of the Free Staters, who have played one less game than the Bulls' seven.
The clash exploded into a try-scoring festival in the second half as both teams turned on the style with some good attacking rugby.
This was after the hosts led by only 17-15 at the break after scoring two converted tries and a penalty goal. In reply, the visiting side from Cape Town also scored twice, as well as one conversion and a penalty goal.
However, Gert Smal's team eventually clinched the result via five tries plus a late penalty try, five conversions and a penalty goal, while WP managed to score five tries, three conversions and a penalty.
After a slow start during which the hosts played all the rugby but failed to trouble the scorers, Morne Steyn, the Bulls' evergreen former Springbok flyhalf, finally got his side on the scoreboard with a trademark penalty goal.
But the Capetonians replied shortly thereafter through hooker JJ Kotze, who was the recipient of a five pointer following an excellent maul.
The men from Pretoria replied immediately and in almost identical fashion, which saw prop Robert Hunt go over at the opposite side. Steyn kicked his side into a five point lead when he easily added the extras (10-5).
Poor discipline then handed the home side their second try when WP inside centre Cornel Smith was yellow carded for a repeated team offence. From the resultant tap-penalty, home scrumhalf Keagan Johannes darted over.
Although they were one man short as a result of the yellow card, Province's persistence paid off as they also scored their second try through flank Marcel Theunissen.
Tim Swiel (flyhalf) managed to succeed with the conversion and straight forward penalty goal on the halftime hooter to take the score to 17-15.
After the break, wing David Kriel added the Bulls' third and fourth tries, and WP's Smit atoned for his yellow card when he ran a superb inside line to take a pass as he raced through for another try by the visiting side.
The Bulls' replacement prop Lizo Gqoboka joined in on the try-scoring act with his late effort, before Tristan Leyds (fullback) followed suit for Province with an even later acrobatic effort in the corner, while Angelo Davids also got in on the act for the visitors.
However, by that time, a penalty try (and a third WP yellow card) had all but sealed the win for the hosts.
Man of the match: Angelo Davids and Marcel Theunissen were the standout performers for the Western Province. While David Kriel, Morne Steyn and Bismarck du Plessis were in fine form for the Bulls. However, our nod goes to Keagan Johannes, who delivered a great display in the No.9 jersey. He dictated the game well and proved to vital cog in the Bulls' attack
The scorers:
For Bulls:
Tries: Hunt, Johannes, Kriel 2, Gqoboka, Penalty try
Cons: Steyn 5
Pen: Steyn
For Western Province:
Tries: Kotze, Theunissen, Smit, Leyds, Davids
Cons: Swiel 2, Wolhuter
Pen: Swiel
Yellow cards: Cornel Smit (Western Province, 23 - Repeated infringement), Jarrod Taylor (Western Province, 60 - Dangerous cynical late tackle), Nama Xaba (Western Province, 78 - Deliberately foul play)
Teams
Bulls: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 David Kriel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Morne Steyn (captain), 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Muller Uys, 7 WJ Steenkamp, 6 Jaco Labuschagne, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Rynhardt Ludwig, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Werner Gouws, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Richard Kriel.
Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Timothy Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Connor Evans, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Simon Miller, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Mnombo Zwelendaba.
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison, Local
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen