In an 11-try fest at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday, it was the Vodacom Bulls who emerged as comfortable 36-33 victors over the Tafel Lager Griquas in a Carling Currie Cup thriller.
As expected, from the first whistle the match was played at a high tempo with both sides showing their intentions to claim the crucial win. At the break it was the home side who had a narrow 20-16 lead, with the Vodacom Bulls having scored three tries to the Tafel Lager Griquas’ solitary first half five-pointer.
The home side shifted a few gears up in the second half as they went on to score a further five tries to take their tally for the day to eight, with the visitors responding with a penalty try and a last-minute dot down for their total of three tries.
Champion of the Match, Elrigh Louw, admitted that despite the final scoreline, the encounter was far from an easy battle.
“It was very tough out there,” Louw said.
“Penalties and discipline let us down in that first half, and we had some tough words to say at the break. Fortunately, we managed to give a better performance in the second half and we are happy with the win.”
The Vodacom Bulls will next face the Sigma Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
TRY SCORERS:
Vodacom Bulls (20) 56
TRIES: Johan Goosen, Schalk Erasmus (2), Kurt-Lee Arendse (2), Walt Steenkamp, Elrigh Louw, Jan-Hendrik Wessels
CONVERSIONS: Goosen (4), Chris Smith
PENALTIES: Goosen (2)
Tafel Lager Griquas (16) 33
TRIES: Stefan Ungerer, Penalty Try, Janco Uys
CONVERSIONS: George Whitehead (2), Penalty Try
PENALTIES: Whitehead (4)
