Defending Currie Cup champions, the Vodacom Bulls hosted the Windhoek Draught Griquas in what promised to be another exciting clash between the two rivals. Two yellow cards did stop the Bulls' dominance, however, they still were "easy" winners with 48-38 after doing the hard word during the first 40 minutes of the match.
The first twenty minutes of the match was a close affair, however, the cracks in the Griquas' defence started to show which unfortunately meant one thing, and the Bulls dominated to lead 36-05 at the halftime break.
The fightback of the Griquas was as impressive as it was expected and they narrowed the gap to just ten minutes with six minutes left on the clock, unfortunately at the end too little too late.
02:12 Stravino Jacobs scored the Vodacom Bulls' first try of the match after some brilliant handling by the home team's backline. (05-00)
09:01 Sango Xamlashe steamrolled and fought his way over the Bulls' tryline from a good ten meters out to score a determined five-pointer. (05-05)
11:25 Chris Smith converted a penalty for the Bulls' (08-05).
18:23 Cyle Brink bulldozed his way from ten meters out, over the tryline to score the Bulls' second try of the match. (15-05)
20:00 The first twenty minutes of the match was a close affair, however, the cracks in the Griquas' defence started to show which unfortunately will only mean one thing.
20:44 Stravino Jacobs scored his second try of the match. (22-05)
29:18 Youngster Reinhardt Ludwig scored a brilliant pick up and go try to earn the Bulls their bonus-point try. (29-05)
37:57 Canan Moddie ended a movement started by Madosh Tanbwe with a great try. (36-05)
43:49 Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored from a 5m lineout-maul. (41-05)
51:28 A penalty try was awarded to Griquas with Lizo Gqoboka shown a yellow card. (41-12)
52:59 Madosh Tambwe (Bulls) was shown a yellow card.
54:21 Munier Hartzenberg scored a great individual try after a quick tap by Johan Mulder. (41-19)
60:00 The Griquas' were "saved" by the two yellow cards awarded against the Bulls with the visitors adding fourteen points to their tally while the Bulls were reduced to thirteen players.
60:54 Hanru Sirgel scored the bonus point try for the Griquas. (41-24)
63:35 Harold Vorster scored another try for the Bulls. (48-24)
69:06 Hanru Sirgel scored his second try for the visitors bulldozing his way over for the visitors' fifth try. (48-31)
73:42 The Bulls' defence is leaking tries at an alarming rate as Christopher Hollis strolled over (48-38)
78:17 A yellow card was awarded to Luther Obi (Griquas).
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Stravino Jacobs (2), Cyle Brink, Reinhardt Ludwig, Canan Moodie, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Harold Vorster. Conversions: Chris Smith (5). Penalty: Chris Smith.
Windhoek Draught Griquas: Tries: Sango Xamlashe, penalty try, Munier Hartzenberg, Hanru Sirgel (2), Christopher Hollis. Conversions: George Whitehead (3).
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15. Canan Moodie, 14. Stravino Jacobs, 13. Cornal Hendricks, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Madosh Tambwe, 10. Chris Smith, 9. Embrose Papier, 8. WJ Steenkamp, 7. Cyle Brink, 6. Arno Botha (c), 5. Reinhardt Ludwig, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Robert Hunt, 2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1. Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Dylan Smith, 19. Ruan Nortje, 20. Muller Uys, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Juan Mostert, 23. Stedman Gans.
Windhoek Draught Griquas: 15. Rynhardt Jonker, 14. Munier Hartzenberg, 13. Sango Xamlashe, 12. Alex-Zander du Plessis, 11. Luther Obi, 10. George Whitehead, 9. Johan Mulder, 8. Sibabalo Qoma, 7. Hanru Sirgel, 6. Niel Otto (c), 5. Derik Pretorius, 4. Johan Retief, 3. Janu Botha, 2. Gustav du Randt, 1. Kudzwai Dube. Replacements: 16. Janco Uys, 17. Edward Davids, 18. Justin Forwood, 19. Cameron Lindsay, 20. Luyolo Dapula, 21. Stefan Ungerer, 22. Christopher Hollis, 23. Ashlon Davids.