Bulls up a gear to beat Cheetahs

– The Blue Bulls had to dig deep to beat the Free State Cheetahs 3412 in their opening Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein yesterday.

It was the home side that fired the first shots in anger when the burly Joseph Dweba scored in the corner. Hooker Dweba showed pace and strength before powering over for his teams first try. Tian Schoeman added the extra two points to put the Cheetahs in charge.

The Cheetahs had to play with 14 men when the captain, Ox Nche, was sent to the cooler in the 15th minute after a high tackle on Ruan Nortje.

Bloemfontein

The Bulls hit back when Manie Libbok touched down under the post. He converted his own try. Libbok scored after nine phases of Bulls’ forward pressure.

The second half Cheetahs’ scrumhalf Shaun Venter scored after another attack from the home side.

Libbok kept the Bulls well within touching distance when he slotted over a penalty.

The Bulls hooker Edgar Marutlulle then crashed over after the Pretoria side impressed with a maul.

The referee spotted an infringement, but a penalty try was awarded after it was found that Justin Basson had collapsed the maul.

Basson was yellow carded and that was effectively the end of the Cheetahs challenge.

A brilliant pass by Libbok saw Jade Stighling score another try to extend the Bulls lead. Libbok succeeded with the conversion and a penalty to place the visitors further ahead.

The Bulls ended with a bonus point try in the last minute when fullback Divan Rossouw dotted down.

Meanwhile, yhe Pumas started their Currie Cup campaign on a high note by thrashing Griquas 42-19 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit yesterday. – ANA