The Vodacom Bulls did all that was asked for against NovaVit Griffons on Friday in a match that lasted four hours and forty minutes. The Vodacom Bulls won 64-33 but might rue their five minutes' lack of concentration that cost them twelve points,
The Vodacom Bulls and NovaVit Griffons were in an arm wrestle for thirty-odd minutes before Loftus Versveld's emergency generator failed and stopped the match for just a bit more than three hours. The Vodacom Bulls led 21-11. Apart from the first few minutes from the restart the Vodacom Bulls took control and opened up a 57-21 lead before NovaVit Griffons added two tries of their own. A final try by the Vodacom Bulls secured a much-needed 64-33 win for the Vodacom Bulls.
The Vodacom Bulls won a NovaVit Griffons' lineout and spread the ball wide to David Kriel who scored in the corner to open up the account of the hosts on the scoreboard after three minutes of play.
Jaywinn Juries converted a penalty for the hosts after ten minutes of play. The Vodacom Bulls' scrummie Emrose spread the ball wide to Stedman Gans who ran a brilliant line to score the host's second try, extending their lead to 14-03 after seventeen minutes of play.
NovaVit Griquas' Domma Smith bashed through the defence of the host and got his pass away. Following several players handling the ball, Duan Pretorius crashed over for the visitors' second try.
Seven minutes later Nizaam Carr scored the Vodacom Bulls' third try before Jaywinn Huries added a second penalty to reduce the host's lead to 21-11 after thirty minutes of play.
The generator at Loftus decided to stop play for a bit more than three hours before play was resumed.
The NovaVit Griffons struck almost immediately after play was resumed when captain Duan Pretorius scored an easy trie following some great interplay by his teammates. Vodacom Bulls lead 21-18 after 39 minutes of play in the first half.
The Vodacom Bulls struck back almost immediately when Cornal Hendricks followed up his kick to score in the corners. The Vodacom Bulls led 26-18 which was also the halftime score.
NovaVit Griffons' Jaywin Juries added a converted penalty after just one minute of play. However, a try from the back of a five-meter lineout-maul by captain Marcell Coetzee increased the Vodacom Bulls' lead to 33-21.
The Vodacom Bulls stole a Novavit Gans and spread the ball wide. Johann Goosen kicked a grubber which was mastered by David Kriel who scored his second try of the match. Thereafter, the Vodacom Bulls who were in complete control at that stage, scored three tries by Embrose Papier, Marcell Coetzee and David Kriel before the NovaVit Griffons were awarded a penalty try, followed by a yellow card to captain Marcell Coetzee.
The NovaVit Griffons added a bonus point try with five minutes still to go, when Dandre Delport scored off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul to reduce the Vodacom Bulls lead to 57-33.
Mornay Smith scored the last try of the match securing a 64-33 win for the Vodacom Bulls.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: David Kriel (3), Stedman Gans, Nizaam Carr. Cornal Hendricks, Marcell Coetzee (2), Embrose Papier, Mornay Smith. Conversions: Johan Goosen (7).
NovaVit Griffons: Tries: Duan Pretorius, Domma Smith, Penalty Try, Dandre Delport. Conversions: Jaywinn Juries. Penalties: Jaywinn Juries (3)
Teams
Bulls: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Mihlali Mosi, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Joe van Zyl, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Ruan Nortje, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Sibongile Novuka, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Griffons: 15 Duan Pretorius, 14 Domenic Smit, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Marquit September, 11 Randy Fielies, 10 Robbie Petzer, 9 Jaywinn Juries, 8 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Hendrik van Schoor, 1 Xolani Jacobs. Replacements – from: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20 Ludio Williams, 21 Jean Pretorius, 22 Keanu Vers, 23 Duren Hoffman, 24 Curtly Thomas, 25 Chadley Wenn, 26 Ethan Williams.
