News

Eight-try Blue Bulls cruise to summit

September 26 2008

The Blue Bulls claimed a winning bonus point as they thumped the Griquas 58-22 to move top of the Currie Cup table in Kimberley on Friday.

In a high-scoring affair, hooker Derick Kuün scored a hat-trick of tries with five more crossings adding gloss to a comfortable win.

The visitors other tries came through Fourie du Preez, Wynand Olivier, Akona Ndungane, Bryan Habana and Tiger Mangweni, while fly-half Steyn added fourteen points, and replacement Burton Francois slotted a pair of conversions.

However, the visitors were on the receiving end of an explosive start from the Griquas, who could have severely unsettled their opponents but for several costly errors.

Those mistakes saw two try-scoring opportunities go begging before a well-worked move found wing MJ Mentz to open the scores with a fine try as some consolation.

That seemed to awaken the Blue Bulls who drew level seven minutes later when the dynamic Du Preez opted for a quick tap before diving over as the scores stayed close going past 20 minutes.

Entering the second quarter and centre Olivier crossed as the clinical Blue Blues got into their stride.

Sustained possession then allowed Springbok Pierre Spies some momentum to break through the Griquas defensive line before he handed on to Kuun for the first of his afternoon.

But then the hosts hit back when full-back Conrad Barnard straightened smartly to cross and close the gap with seven minutes of the half remaining.

However, the response was short-lived as a Steyn penalty, followed by Kuun crashing over from a five-metre tap in the final minute, secured the try bonus point before the break.

And upon their return it took the hooker just two minutes to complete his hat-trick when a well-worked line-out move ended with him barging over from close range.

Scores then changed hands on both sides before the visitors finished with a flourish as back-three duo Ndungane and Mangweni sealed the triumph to move the Blue Bulls temporarily top.

For Griquas:

Tries: Mentz, Barnard, Pretorius

Con: Barnard 2

Pen: Barnard

For Blue Bulls:

Tries: Du Preez, Kuun 3, Olivier, Ndungane, Habana, Mangweni

Con: Steyn 4, Francis 2

Pen: Steyn 2

Griquas: 15 Conrad Barnard, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Riaan Viljoen, 12 Herkie Kruger, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Gareth Krause (c), 7 Frans Viljoen, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Steph Roberts.

Replacements: 16 Dean Hopp, 17 Ruaan du Preez, 18 Jacques Lombaard, 19 Stephan Gerber, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 Gavin Passens.

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Jacques Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Juandre Kruger, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün , 1 Jaco Engels.

Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Tiger Mangweni.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan

Touch judges: Matt Kemp, Marc van Zyl

TMO: Johann Meuwesen