The Vodacom Bulls produced a dominant performance to claim a 27-53 Carling Currie Cup win over Tafel Lager Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.
Coach Gert Smal’s charges returned to Tshwane with the bonus-point victory after registering a tally of seven tries in the match, with the home team managing to secure a bonus point too after responding with four tries.
It was the Vodacom Bulls, through a try by loosehead prop Simphiwe Matanzima, who were the first to put points on the scoreboard.
It did not take long for the Tafel Lager Griquas to respond as flyhalf Zander fu Plessis scored the first of his two tries of the day, four minutes later.
The visitors went on to add two more first half tries and a penalty, while the home team added a try and drop-goal to go into the half-time break with the Vodacom Bulls leading 15-22.
The Vodacom Bulls were almost flawless in the final 40 minutes of the game where they intensified their dominance, adding another four tries and a penalty. The Tafel Lager Griquas could only manage two more five-pointers and a conversion as the visitors from Tshwane ran away as comfortable victors at the final whistle.
Following a stellar performance throughout the match and a reliable boot, Vodacom Bulls flyhalf, Chris Smith, walked away as the Champion of the Match on the day.
The Vodacom Bulls will next face the Cell C Sharks in a Carling Currie Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday, March 16.
SCORERS
Tafel Lager Griquas (15) 22
Tries: Zander du Plessis (2), Hanru Sirgel, Michael Amiras.
Conversions: Du Plessis (2)
Drop-Goal: Thee Boshoff
Vodacom Bulls (22) 53
Tries: Simphiwe Matanzima, Cornal Hendricks, Walt Steenkamp, Arno Botha, Canan Moodie, Bismarck du Plessis, Keagan Johannes.
Conversions: Chris Smith (6)
Penalties: Smith (2)
