Carling Currie Cup action returned to DHL Newlands when DHL Western Province hosted the Vodacom Bulls. The Bulls won the match with a bonus point (34-13) to move to the top of the 2021 Carling Currie Cup Log.
A match that did not live up to expectations. A red card to Scarra Ntubeni robbed Western Province of the slight chance they had to beat the Bulls. Both teams were willing to run from anywhere on the field. A physical match that could only be described as a free-for-all street battle.
00:44 Paul de Wet scored Western Province's first try after a great line ran by Johan du Toit, (07-00).
03:16 Richard Kriel try was the Bulls immediate reply to level the score, (07-07).
06:38 Tim Swiel converted a penalty for Western Province, (10-07).
13:07 Johan Grobbelaar control an overthrow from a lineout to dot down, (10-14).
20:00 The momentum at this stage with the Bulls. Both teams are willing to run from anywhere which may have been "exciting" but at the cost of no structure present.
25:00 Johan Goosen maintains his 100% record as he converted his first penalty, (10-17).
26:55 Tim Swiel add three points with a converted penalty, (13-17).
35:26 Scarra Ntubeni was sent off with a red card after a dubious dangerous high tackle decision.
40:00 The Vodacom Bulls have the momentum at this stage, winning this street fight with a certain amount of ease.
49:25 Zak Burger found the gap after the Bulls' forwards attacked the Western Province score line several times, (13-24).
60:00 A 14-man Western Province is still in the game after a brilliant second-half performance, however, one had the feeling that the dam wall could still give way.
68:39 Johan Goosen scored the first points of the second half with his second converted penalty of the match, (!3-27).
74:27 Cornal Hendricks scored his 7th try of the season to secure the bonus point try for the Bulls, (13-34)
Scorers:
DHL Western Province: Try: Paul de Wet. Conversion: Tim Swiel. Penalties: Tim Swiel (2).
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Richard Kriel, Johan Grobbelaar, Zak Burger, Cornal Hendricks. Conversions: Johan Goosen (3), Chris Smith. Penalties: Johan Goosen (2).
DHL Western Province: 15. Sergeal Petersen, 14. Seabelo Senatla, 13. Juan de Jongh (C), 12. Dan du Plessis, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Tim Swiel, 9. Paul de Wet, 8. Evan Roos, 7. Johan du Toit, 6. Nama Xaba, 5. JD Schickerling, 4. David Meihuizen, 3. Neethling Fouché, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Leon Lyons. Replacements (from): 16. Andre-Hugo Venter, 17. Dian Bleuler, 18. Sazi Sandi, 19. Deon Fourie, 20. Simon Miller, 21. Godlen Masimla, 22. Chris Schreuder 23. Rikus Pretorius, 24. Warrick Gelant, 25. Marcel Theunissen.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Cornal Hendricks, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Richard Kriel, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Zak Burger, 8. Elrigh Louw, 7. Muller Uys, 6. Marcell Coetzee (C), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Lizo Gqoboka, 18. Jacques van Rooyen, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Sibongile Novuka.