The Vodacom Blue Bulls continued their unstoppable march in the Carling Currie Cup, delivering a resounding 55-21 victory against the NovaVit Griffons at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday. With this win, the Bulls maintained their unbeaten streak, firmly establishing themselves at the top of the standings with 26 points, now three points clear of the second-place Fidelity ADT Lions, who themselves had a triumphant day with a 55-12 victory over the Airlink Pumas.
A Dominant Start
The game kicked off with a bang as Blue Bulls left winger Sibongile Novuka drew first blood for the home side. In just five minutes, Novuka finished off a brilliant set-piece try, which began with a lineout on the 22m line. This early strike set the tone for what would be a relentless display of rugby dominance by the Bulls.
Blue Bulls Dominate the NovaVit Griffons with a Stunning 55-21 Victory
From that point on, it was clear who controlled the field. The Bulls dominated both territory and possession, keeping the Griffons under constant pressure and largely confined to their own half. This intense pressure paid off in the 24th minute when former Springbok winger Cornall Hendricks cut through the Griffons’ defense like a hot knife through butter, scoring the Bulls’ second try of the evening. Boeta Chamberlain calmly added the extra points, taking the score to 12-0.
A Brief Respite for the Griffons
Despite the relentless onslaught, the Griffons managed to have a brief moment of reprieve. In the 29th minute, Canan Moodie delivered a long-range try for the Bulls, although Chamberlain’s attempt at conversion went wide. The Bulls seemed poised to extend their lead even further when Novuka crossed the line again, only for the try to be disallowed by referee Peter Martin after the TMO ruled a forward pass in the buildup.
Not to be outdone, the Griffons finally found their way onto the scoreboard. Captain Keanu Vers, showing remarkable determination, scored his first Currie Cup try by evading several defenders to cross the line. Qhamani Kota easily converted the try, bringing the score to 24-7 with just eight minutes remaining in the first half.
The Bulls Tighten Their Grip
The Bulls, undeterred by the Griffons’ brief resurgence, continued their assault. Juann Else added to the tally just before halftime, scoring off a perfectly executed driving maul. The teams went into the break with the Bulls leading 24-7, a healthy cushion that foreshadowed the one-sided nature of the second half.
Any hopes the Griffons harbored for a comeback were quickly dashed as the Bulls picked up right where they left off. In the 50th minute, scrumhalf Zak Burger exploited a gap in the Griffons’ defense to score a converted try from close range, pushing the lead to 31-7.
Griffons Struggle to Keep Up
The Bulls’ unrelenting pressure continued to yield results. In the 59th minute, Lionel Mapoe sliced through the Griffons’ defense to add another try to the board. Although the Griffons managed to respond with a try from substitute Cheslin Arendse, it was clear that they were struggling to keep up with the pace and intensity set by the Bulls.
The story of the evening was one of dominance by the home team. Keagan Johannes and Nama Xaba both crossed the whitewash, further stretching the Bulls’ lead. Despite a late consolation try from Curley Thomas for the Griffons, the result was never in doubt. Novuka capped off the night with his second try, sealing a 55-21 victory.
Scorers
Blue Bulls:
– Tries: Sibongile Novuka (2), Cornal Hendricks, Canan Moodie, Juann Else, Zak Burger, Lionel Mapoe, Keagan Johannes, Nama Xaba
– Conversions: Boeta Chamberlain (3)
Griffons:
– Tries: Keanu Vers, Cheslin Arendse, Curley Thomas
– Conversions: Qhamani Kota (3), Jaco Van der Walt (2)
A Statement Win
This victory is a statement of intent from the Vodacom Blue Bulls as they continue their quest for Currie Cup glory. Their performance at Loftus Versfeld was nothing short of spectacular, with every player contributing to a well-oiled machine that looks increasingly difficult to stop. As the tournament progresses, the Bulls are setting the standard, and their rivals will need to bring their A-game if they hope to challenge this powerhouse team
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