News

Falcons run Blue Bulls close

October 03 2008

The Blue Bulls struggled to a 22-20 victory over the Falcons in their final regular season Currie Cup game at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

As it stands they sit on top of the table, but the Sharks are still to complete their fixtures and, baring a disaster will return to the top of the table on Saturday.

The Falcons knew they were playing for their survival, and the losing bonus point they secured will more than likely see them playing the Griffons in the relegation play-off.

A much changed Blue Bulls team were never able to dominate and had to settle for a six-point winning margin at half-time.

With the Falcons looking to play rugby at every chance it was obvious the Blue Bulls had spent little time together as a team.

Their game was punctuated by moments of brilliance from players such as Stephan Dippenaar, Tiger Mangweni and Deon Stegmann.

First half tries from Stephan Dippenaar and Zane Kirchner laid the platform for the victory, but a second half try from Poerie van Rooyen allowed for a tense final fifteen minutes.

In the end the Blue Bulls held on for a deserved, if not convincing, victory.

The Scorers:

For Blue Bulls:

Tries: Dippenaar, Kirchner, Engels

Cons: Francis 2

Pen: Francis

For Falcons:

Tries: Booysen, Van Rooyen

Cons: Perkins 2

Pens: Perkins 2

The Teams:

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Tiger Mangweni, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wayne Julies, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Dewald Potgieter, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp (c), 4 Juandré Kruger, 3 Ruan Vermeulen, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Jaco Engels.

Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Fudge Mabeta, 19 Jacques Burger, 20 JP Joubert, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Stefan Watermeyer.

Falcons: 15 Jeffrey Perkins, 14 Frank Wagenström, 13 Johan Jackson, 12 Franco Booysen, 11 Poerie van Rooyen, 10 Hanno Coetzee (captain), 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Thabo Mamojele, 6 Gert Lubbe, 5 Nico Luus, 4 Wouter Moore, 3 Dewald Coetzee, 2 Jody Jeneker, 1 Zane Killian.

Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Gavin Whittingham, 18 Dupi du Preez, 19 Reg Muller, 20 Freddie van Zyl, 21 Daan-Roux van Coller, 22 Dewald Pretorius.

Referee: JC Fortuin

Touch judges: François Veldsman, Cobus Wessels

Television match official: Shaun Veldsman