Impressive Bulls outclass WP in Cape Town
Defending Carling Currie Cup champions, the Vodacom Bulls, flexed their muscles to defeat DHL Western Province 40-21 in their second-round clash at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday evening.
The visitors from Pretoria had too much power, aggression and precision and went into the break with a comprehensive 28-0 lead on a perfect summer evening in the Mother City.
They registered four converted tries and managed to keep the home side scoreless with solid defence.
The Vodacom Bulls added two more tries after the break but it was the home side who finished the match with a flurry of late tries – three in the last 15 minutes – to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
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DHL WP scored three late consolation tries through hard-working skipper Nama Xaba, his fellow loose forward Marcel Theunissen and fullback Tristan Leyds.
Bulls replacement front rower Jan-Henrik Wessels was red carded in the last minute of normal pay for a dangerous cleanout.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province 21 (0) – Tries: Nama Xaba, Tristan Leyds, Marcel Theunissen. Conversions: Tim Swiel (3).
Vodacom Bulls 40 (28) – Tries: James Verity-Amm, Canan Moodie, Simphiwe Matanzima, Cyle Brink, Bismarck du Plessis, Marco Jansen van Vuren. Conversions: Morne Steyn (5).
Pumas smash Lions in record-breaking win
The Airlink Pumas scored seven unanswered tries against the Sigma Lions at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday afternoon, chalking up their biggest ever Carling Currie Cup score against their Gauteng foes by winning 50-9.
The visitors showed glimpses of their dominance in the opening half by scoring three tries for a 24-6 lead at the break.
They then completely dominated the second half, outscoring and physically outplaying the hosts by 26-3 and dotting down four more times.
The Lowvelders’ pack were ruthless in their execution and played to their strengths, with the last three tries coming through driving play by the forwards.
The young Lions side had no answer to the physical dominance of the Pumas and were totally outplayed, especially in the second half.
However, the game then deteriorated as both coaches emptied the bench, and the heat became a factor as well. The Pumas regrouped best with replacement prop Simon Raw bulldozing his way over the whitewash to extend their lead to 27 points with 15 minutes to play.
That was soon extended to 34 points after replacement hooker Llewellyn Classen followed Raw’s example and barged over after a number of forward drives by the pack.
Brandon Valentyn scored the final try of the match, again off the back of a couple of powerful lineout drives, a try that confirmed the total domination of the Airlink Pumas pack.
Scorers:
Sigma Lions 9 (6) – Penalty goals: Vaughen Isaacs (3).
Airlink Pumas 50 (24) – Tries: Devon Williams, Daniel Maartens, Corné Fourie, Tinus de Beer, Simon Raw, Llewellyn Classen, Brandon Valentyn. Conversions: De Beer (6). Penalty goal: De Beer.
Griquas push 14-man Sharks close in Durban
A 14-man Cell C Sharks side held on by the skin of their teeth to claim a 24-23 Carling Currie Cup win over Tafel Lager Griquas in challenging conditions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Wednesday.
The Durbanites were in control of the contest, leading 18-6, before the match was turned on its head by a red card to Samoan international OJ Noa – among half a dozen Carling Currie Cup debutants in the home team – for a dangerous tackle on Justin Forwood in the 61st minute.
The visitors would’ve had the lead as well as momentum going into the second half if not for three missed kicks at goal. As it stood, the Cell C Sharks held a 10-6 lead at half-time and scored two minutes after the break, Dan Jooste breaking off from a driving maul and powering his way over.
Murray Koster was unsuccessful with the difficult conversion but slotted a penalty goal in the 52nd minute to stretch the scoreline out to 18-6, Tafel Lager Griquas struggling to cope with the increased tempo of the Cell C Sharks.
Then came the game-changing moment with referee Rasta Rasivhenge giving new Cell C Sharks No 7 Noa his marching orders and setting up a thrilling final quarter, with the men in Black and White doing just enough to give coach Etienne Fynn a razor-thin win in his first match at the helm.
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks 24 (10) – Tries: Cameron Wright, Dan Jooste. Conversions: Jordan Chait. Penalty goals: Chait, Murray Koster, Sanele Nohamba (2).
Tafel Lager Griquas 23 (6) – Tries: Michael Amiras, Sango Xamlashe. Conversions: Zander du Plessis (2). Penalty goals: Du Plessis (3).
