Griffons end their duck with historic win
MATCH REPORT: The Griffons recorded their first win since returning to the Currie Cup competition, edging a Bulls 32-28 in Welkom on Friday.
It is the first time in their 50-odd years of existence that the Northern Free State outfit had won a Currie Cup match against the Bulls.
The teams scored four tries each, but two Jaywinn Juries penalties helped the home team bag a full five points.
It left the Bulls as the only side in the eight-team competition still looking for a win this year, although they two took points - a four-try bonus point and a second for losing by seven points or less.
* To recap all the drama in Welkom, CLICK HERE!
The Griffons, after a nervous start, settle to start getting some powerful charges it - burly No.8 Sokhuphumla Xakalashe powering his way over for the first try. Jaywinn Juries added the conversion - 7-0 in as many minutes.
Juries added a penalty on the 10-minute mark, as the Bulls' error count mounted at an alarming rate.
The Bulls eventually strung enough phases together for centre Wandisile Simelane to burst over close to the uprights, with Johan Goosen adding the conversion - 7-10.
Juries made it a six-point game with a second penalty, before the Bulls claimed the lead - No.8 Muller Uys bursting over and Goosen adding the extras, 14-13 on the half-hour mark.
Hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels got the Bulls' third try, but Jean Pretorius pulled one back for the hosts on the brink of half-time - to make it 21-20 to the Bulls at the break.
Juries had a chance early in the second half to reclaim the lead, but a rare miss saw his penalty attempt ail wide of the uprights - with Randy Fielies caught by the cover defence a metre short of the Bulls' line.
However, a scrum penalty and a line-out drive - which went close - set up lock Jaco Willemse to plunge over fort a try that reclaimed the lead for the hosts. Juries held his nerve to slot the conversion - 27-21.
A Johan Goosen fumble near his own line gifted Jamba Ulengo the bonus-point try. Juries was again wide of the mark, but the Griffons now held an 11-point lead - 32-21.
The Bulls got their bonus-point try in the 62nd minute - burly prop Robert Hunt barging over, with Goosen narrowing the gap to four points (28-32) with the conversion.
With less than three minutes remaining the referee took the players off the field because of the lightning of a thunderstorm that came too close to the stadium and posed a risk to the players.
The players returned after a 15-minute break, the home team hanging on for a famous win.
The scorers
For the Griffons
Tries: Xakalashe, Jean Pretorius, Willemse, Ulengo
Cons: Juries 3
Pens: Juries 2
For the Bulls
Tries: Simelane, Uys, Wessels, Hunt
Cons: Goosen 4
Teams
Griffons: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Carel Jan Coetzee, 12 Marquit September, 11 Randy Fielies, 10 Duan Pretorius (captain), 9 Jaywinn Juries, 8 Sokhuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Jean Pretorius, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Dandre Delport, 1 Stephan de Jager.
Replacements: 16 Hendrik van Schoor, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20 Curtly Thomas, 21 Richman Gora, 22 Robbie Petzer, 23 Duren Hoffman.
Bulls: 15 Franco Knoetze, 14 Quewin Nortje, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Kabelo Mokoena, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Phumzile Maqondwana, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (captain).
Replacement: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Joe van Zyl, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Jacques Alberts, 20 Mihhali Mosi, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Chris Smit, 23 Adriaan Joubert.
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Ben Crouse