Kimberley's killing field strikes again
Kimberley, the killing field of many major unions, claimed another scalp on Saturday when Griquas edged the Blue Bulls 48-44 in a 12-try Currie Cup thriller.
Although the teams scored six tries each, the boot of fullback Rudi Vogt saved the day for the home team - as he made a personal contribution of 23 points through a try, six conversions and two penalties.
Griquas, who thrived in a match in which the Bulls produced an extraordinary high error count, showed that given the right conditions they can live with the best teams in the country.
The only consolation for the Bulls is that they took two bonus points away from Kimberley, one for scoring four or more tries and a second for losing by seven points or less.
But, as far as their play-offs hopes go, they will know the loss probably ended their campaign. They now depend on other teams doing them favours.
The match had it all - exciting tries, solid defence, bruising forward play and a host of errors from the officials, including a penalty going against the wrong player for foul play.
The Bulls wasted no time in getting the scoreboard ticking, Louis Fouché slotting a sweetly-struck drop-goal in the third minute. The opportunity was set up by a sniping break from scrumhalf Jano Vermaak moments earlier and a knock-on by Griquas No.8 Leon Karemaker.
Minutes later Rudi Vogt levelled matters with a penalty, after the Bulls were pinged at a tackle.
In the 10th minute Bjorn Basson strolled over for a try that started near the Bulls 22 - lock Juandré Kruger picking up a stray pass from Griquas and starting a counter, with quick hands and some solid phase play breaking down the home team's defences.
Less than five minutes later Akona Ndungane scored his team's second try - the Bulls opting to turn a penalty into a line-out and when the maul was sacked they went left where an inside pass found Ndungane, who came off his wing, in a huge hole. This time Fouche was not on target with the conversion, but the Bulls had a handy 15-3 lead.
The Griquas, as they always do, found a way to get back into the game - some sloppy play, with both teams stopping after what seemed an obvious error, only or the referee to call 'play on' and Rudi Vogt flopping over for a try. Vogt added the conversion - 10-15.
And Griquas continued their resurgence, with Jonathan Mokuena putting hooker Ryno Barnes into a hole, before he offloaded to Rocco Jansen to score. Vogt's conversion gave Griquas the lead (17-17) for the first time in the 26th minute.
However, that lead lasted less than two minutes. From the restart Griquas knocked on and from the resulting scrum Francois Venter cut inside Matthew Rosslee, before sending Basson over for his second try. The conversion made it 22-17.
The ding-dong nature of the game continued, a Vogt penalty narrowing the gap to 20-22 in the 31st minute.
Dusty Noble put Griquas back into the lead five minutes from the break, coming off his wing much like Ndungane did earlier, getting out of a sloppy pass and racing clear for the home team's third try. Vogt's conversion made it 27-22. The hosts retained that lead into the break.
The Bulls had the best possible start to the second half, Jano Vermaak strolling over for the bonus-point try inside the opening two minutes - a score set up by some strong forward bursts and quick recycling. The conversion made it 29-27.
Almost immediately from the restart the visitors were reduced to 14 men - captain Gary Botha sent to the sin bin for slapping the ball out of the scrumhalf's hand.
Griquas had a chance to regain the lead, but a Vogt penalty drifted wide of the uprights and when Fouché slotted a penalty in the 52nd minute for the Bulls they stretched their lead to five points (32-27).
The Bulls' forward then took command and two strong mauls, from line-outs after penalties, and a few quick rucks saw Jacques Potgieter flop over for a well-worked try. Fouché's conversion made it 39-27 - leaving the home team with a mountain to climb.
And they started that climb with a try by Matthew Rosslee in the 61st minute - coming after a series of forward raids and a penalty, before the Griquas centre finally found a gap in the Bulls' defence. Vogt added the extras - 34-39.
Two minutes later Griquas hit the lead - with quick hands after a turnover putting Jansen over after a sprint down the left touchline. Vogt's conversion made it 41-39.
When Rosslee score his second and Griquas' sixth, after yet another turnover and some poor tackling, the home crowd were delirious with joy. The conversion made it 48-39 and left the Bulls with the mountain to climb.
And they visitors did not make matter easy for themselves with a host of errors, including losing the ball while carrying it in one hand.
With time up on the clock Potgieter barged over from close range to make it a four-point match - 44-48 - and salvage a second bonus point for the Bulls.
Man of the match: This award goes the Griquas team - with the exception of wing Dusty Noble, who disqualified himself with his cheap shot, a punch from behind on Wynand Olivier, and then ending up feigning an injury when the referee blew his whistle. His little theatric act and an error from the match officials resulted in a penalty against the Bulls. However, for all his brave teammates, who battled hard the entire game, this is just award.
The scorers:
For Griquas:
Tries: Vogt, Jansen 2, Noble, Rosslee 2
Cons: Vogt 6
Pens: Vogt 2
For the Blue Bulls:
Tries: Basson 2, Ndungane, Vermaak, Potgieter 2
Cons: Fouché 4
Pen: Fouché
DG: Fouché
Yellow card: Gary Botha (Blue Bulls, 44 - professional foul, slapping the ball out of the scrumhalf's hand)
The teams:
Griquas: 15 Rudi Vogt, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Matthew Rosslee, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 5 George Earle, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Ivann Espag.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Jaco Nepgen, 19 Burger Schoeman, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Earl Rose, 22 Monty Dumond/Fabian Juries.
Blue Bulls: 15 Gerhard van Heever, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Warwick Tecklenburg.
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende, DeGoede Haasbroek
TMO: JC Fortuin