Currie Cup: Bulls build on WP win after outclassing Griffons

The Pretoria outfit's tries came from Aphiwe Dyantyi, Mpilo Gumede (2), Devon Williams, Bernard van der Linde, Chris Barend Smit, Sinju Manjezi and Cornal Hendricks, while Qamani Kota and Matthew Gray got on the try column for the Griffons.

Dyantyi got the scoring underway with his first try for the Bulls after recently joining the franchise. Gumede and Williams then went over for a 19-0 lead before Nizaam Carr had a try ruled out for obstruction.

Gumede got his second shortly before the half-hour mark. The game went through a scrappy patch with both sides struggling to hang onto the ball before the Griffons went down to ten men after Thato Mavundla was yellow-carded for not releasing as he became a scapegoat for a series of infringements from the minnows in a short period of time.

The Bulls opted for touch and scrumhalf Van der Linde sniped his way over from a ruck at close range. Despite their numerical disadvantage and a lapse in concentration from the Bulls perhaps due to some complacency creeping in Kota finished off a flowing backline move involving a series of deft touches before adding the extras himself as the visitors gave themselves something to go into the break with down 31-5.

Credit must be given to the Griffons for putting in a better defensive performance in the second half especially with fatigue creeping in following the hour mark and not being as fit a side as their opponents.

Although that did not look the case for the Northern Free State side when Bulls' inside centre Smit went over within two minutes of the resumption. It would be almost 20 minutes since they conceded again, however, as both teams rung the subsitutions making for a disjointed affair as new combinations tried to find some sort of cohesiveness.

Manjezi dotted down in the 57th minute after he received an excellent inside pass from Smit making it 45-5. With five minutes left on the clock, following a few foolish penalties by the Bulls, substitute Gray powered over from a ruck near the line to earn a consolation try for the home team.

Veteran Springbok Hendricks eventually weaved past multiple defenders to score the eighth try for the visitors, with Smith's conversion bringing the Bulls' total to over 50 points as the one-sided affair came to an end.

The scorers

For the Griffons

Tries: Kota, Gray

For the Bulls

Tries: Dyantyi, Gumede 2, Williams, Van der Linde, Smit, Manjezi, Hendricks

Cons: Van der Walt 3, Smith 3

Yellow card: Thato Mavundla (Griffons, 29 - cynical foul, killing the ball after a line break)

Teams

Griffons: 15 Gurshwin Wehr, 14 Gilroy Philander, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Robbie Petzer, 11 Qamani Kota, 10 Duan Pretorius (captain), 9 Keegan Schaefer, 8 Siphamandla Mingo Piti, 7 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Moango Ngundue, 2 Chadley Wenn, 1 Xolani Jacobs.

Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Joshua Paris, 20 Matthew Gray, 21 Jared Kruger, 22 Cheslin Arendse, 23 Christiaan Nel.

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Celimpilo Gumede, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Nizaam Carr (captain), 5 Sintu Manjezi, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Jope van Zyl, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Replacements: 16 Jacques van Rooyen, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Merwe Olivier, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornal Hendricks.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

TMO: Christie du Preez

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