The Vodacom Bulls were held back by a resolute Novavit Griffons side in a 32-28 defeat at the Down Touch Investments Stadium.
The hosts opened their points tally with a converted try accompanied by a penalty for a 10-point lead in the opening 10 minutes of the match.
It was the 16th minute that seemed to be the turning point for the Vodacom Bulls, as the team turned an attacking move by the Griffons into a counter-attacking blitz that would put their hosts under immense pressure. The visitors would need 7 minutes of consistent attack before they would be rewarded with their opening points in the game, exercising a great deal of patience and execution of their skills. Wandisile Simelane went over to the right of the poles, simplifying Johan Goosen’s work for the converted kick.
The hosts would get a penalty but momentum was still with the men from Pretoria and on the stroke of the half-hour mark, they would go over the line for another converted try. The visitors deployed the use of hands, working the ball into the wider spaces, which eventually led Muller Uys over the line. Immediately after that passage of play, the visitors would go over the line for another converted try with Jan-Hendrik Wessels dotting down right under the posts.
Although the momentum was with the men in blue, it was their hosts who would have the final say in the opening stanza, pulling back some crucial points on the cusp of the whistle with a converted try that would leave matters on an appetising mark.
At the break, the two teams were separated by a point with the Vodacom Bulls heading into the sheds leading 20-21.
The restart would see a scrappy 12-minute passage of play from both sides, but the home side would open the scoring tally for the half once more. Scoring a converted try that would see them take a six-point lead with the home crowd spurring their team on. That added injection of extra energy from the fans would charge the Griffons to another try, dotted down on the corner by head, to stretch their lead to 11 points with 23 minutes left on the clock.
On the other side of the hour mark, the Vodacom Bulls would find their feet again as they deployed the use of numbers for another converted try with Robert Hunt steaming his way over the line. The two sides would be separated by four points with 17 minutes left to play.
In the end, the Griffons would do enough to hold back the Vodacom Bulls and register a 32-28 victory with their visitors walking away with a bonus point.
Scorers:
NovaVit Griffons: Tries:Sokhuphumla Xakalashe, Jean Pretorius, Jaco Willemse, Jamba Ulengo. Conversions: Jaywinn Juries (3). Penalties: Jaywin Juries (2).
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Wandisile Simelane, Muller Uys, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Robert Hunt. Conversions: Johan Goosen (4)
Teams
NovaVit Griffons: 15. Domenic Smit, 14. Jamba Ulengo, 13. Carel Jan Coetzee, 12. Marquit September, 11. Randy Fielies, 10. Duan Pretorius (c), 9. Jaywinn Juries, 8. Sokhuphumla Xakalashe, 7. Jean Pretorius, 6. Mitchell Carstens, 5. Michael Benadie, 4. Jaco Willemse, 3. Doctor Booysen, 2. Dandre Delport, 1. Stephan de Jager. Replacements: 16. Hendrik van Schoor, 17. Xolani Jacobs, 18. Buhle Nojekwa, 19. Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20. Curtly Thomas, 21. Richman Gora, 22. Robbie Petzer, 23. Duren Hoffman.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. Franco Knoetze, 14. Quewin Nortje, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Lionel Mapoe, 11. Kabelo Mokoena, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Keagan Johannes, 8. Muller Uys, 7. Nizaam Carr, 6. Phumzile Maqondwana, 5. Reinhardt Ludwig, 4. Jacques du Plessis, 3. Robert Hunt, 2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1. Lizo Gqoboka (c). Replacement: 16. Simphiwe Matanzima, 17. Joe van Zyl, 18. Sebastian Lombard, 19. Jacques Alberts, 20. Mihhali Mosi, 21. Bernard van der Linde, 22. Chris Smit, 23. Adriaan Joubert.
