Bulls’ strong second-half earns them first win of 2011 Currie Cup against Cheetahs - Rugby news
Allister Coetzee’s young Blue Bulls side has completed a magnificent victory, courtesy of their strong second-half comeback to register their first win of the 2011 ABSA Currie Cup. Bulls defeated
the Free State Cheetahs 33 - 30 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria on Saturday, July 23.
Free State Cheetahs, the leaders of the 2011 Currie Cup tournament at the end of the round one, started the match strongly. Cheetahs were first to score points in the match courtesy of their
fullback Hennie Daniller’s 10th minute try. Cheetahs fly half, Sias Ebersohn, followed with a conversion to leave the host’s trailing by seven points.
Blue Bulls open their account with fly half Francois Brummer’s 14th minute penalty. However, the possession was with the Cheetahs as they continued to control the field and the
game.
Ebersohn’s 16th minute penalty again extended the visitor’s lead to seven points. Cheetahs prop Marcel Van der Merwe scored their second try of the match in the 28th minute
of the game. Ebersohn followed with his second conversion of the match to take the scorecard reading 17 – 3.
In the late phases of the first-half, Bulls were able to find some momentum and earned a penalty in the 1st minute of extra time. Brummer successfully kicked his second penalty of
the game to take the scorecard to 17 -6, which remained the same until the end of the first-half.
Bulls, trailing by 11 points, started the second-half strongly and managed to score 10 points in the first 12 minutes. Brummer successfully kicked his third penalty in the 46th minute
followed by their winger Gerhard van der Heever’s 50th minute try. Brummer followed with his conversion to take the scorecard reading 16 – 17.
Cheetahs replied quickly through their lock Francois Uys 51st minute try, followed by Ebersohn’s conversion to extend the lead to eight points. With both side playing an open and
attacking game, lots of scoring opportunities were created.
Bulls’ flanker Derick Kuun scored their second try of the game in the 55th minute followed by Brummer’s conversion to reduce the deficit. Cheetah’s Ebersohn 58th minute
penalty took the scorecard reading 27 – 23, favouring Cheetahs.
Bulls winger Akona Ndungane’s 59th minute try followed by Brummer’s conversion, put the host’s in lead for the first time in the game. Ebersohn’s 64th minute penalty equalised
the score at 30 – all. However, Brummer’s 70th minute penalty took the scorecard reading 33 – 30.
In the remaining passage of the game, Cheetahs tried hard to score but the young and relatively inexperienced Bulls side held off the late surge. The final scorecard read 33 – 30, favouring
Bulls to give their first win of the tournament.
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