Bulls into fifth final

THE Blue Bulls proved beyond reasonable doubt that they are South Africa’s premier domestic rugby team when they produced a near flawless game of rugby to feature in their fifth consecutive Currie Cup final after beating Western Province 45-30 at Loftus on Saturday.

The Bulls had saved one of their best performances of the season for the penultimate game as they went on the rampage scoring five tries in the process and a snap drop-goal from Morne Steyn. For the hosts, all the banter during the week between them and their arch-rivals from Cape Town had added insult to injury after Western Province had secured two wins over the Bulls during the season.However, a more determined Bulls side that was hungry to regain their status as champions of the Currie Cup controlled proceedings from the engine room even though they were starved off the ball in the opening exchanges.Such was the visitor’s early dominance that they were first to rattle the Bulls in the 4th minute when Naas Olivier slotted over a penalty.The lead was quickly neutralised three minutes later when Derick Hougaard kicked over a penalty for the Bulls.After another two traded penalties the game slanted towards the Bulls and chanted by the 46930 strong Loftus crowd, the Bulls were first to score a try after a clinical lineout drive which saw Derick Kuun crash over in the 18th minute.Kuun was at it again in the 25th minute when he was on the end of a turned over Luke Watson knock-on which saw the home side react with speed giving them a healthy 20-6 lead.The last ten minutes of the first half was riddled with errors as Western Province endeavoured towards the Bulls try-line against a resolute Bulls defence.Western Province could have hauled themselves closer to the Bulls before half-time but timely intervention by Bulls fullback Johan Roets and Heini Adams ensured that Western Province would go into half-time without scoring a try.In the second half, Western Province tried to mount a comeback through a Gerrie Britz try in the 50th minute but their fleeting illusion of another famous Loftus victory came to an end when Marius Delport bagged his first of two tries in the 54th minute followed by the Steyn drop-goal five minute later.Bolla Conradie tried to give the visitors a second wind when he scored a try on the hour mark to bring Western province to within eight points at 31-23.But from the resultant kick-off, Bulls substitute flanker Hilton Lobberts scored with his first touch after Corne Uys had failed to collect the ball from the kick-off.The floodgates opened and the Bulls scored two more quick tries to put the contest beyond doubt.Scorers Blue Bulls: Try: Derick Kuun (2), Marius Delport, Hilton Lobberts, Hottie Louw.Conversions: Derick Hougaard (3).Penalties: Derick Hougaard (3).Drop-goal: Morne Steyn.Western Province: Try: Gerrie Britz (2), Bolla Conradie.Conversion: Naas Olivier (3).Penalties: Naas Olivier (3) Nampa-SapaFor the hosts, all the banter during the week between them and their arch-rivals from Cape Town had added insult to injury after Western Province had secured two wins over the Bulls during the season.However, a more determined Bulls side that was hungry to regain their status as champions of the Currie Cup controlled proceedings from the engine room even though they were starved off the ball in the opening exchanges.Such was the visitor’s early dominance that they were first to rattle the Bulls in the 4th minute when Naas Olivier slotted over a penalty.The lead was quickly neutralised three minutes later when Derick Hougaard kicked over a penalty for the Bulls.After another two traded penalties the game slanted towards the Bulls and chanted by the 46930 strong Loftus crowd, the Bulls were first to score a try after a clinical lineout drive which saw Derick Kuun crash over in the 18th minute.Kuun was at it again in the 25th minute when he was on the end of a turned over Luke Watson knock-on which saw the home side react with speed giving them a healthy 20-6 lead.The last ten minutes of the first half was riddled with errors as Western Province endeavoured towards the Bulls try-line against a resolute Bulls defence.Western Province could have hauled themselves closer to the Bulls before half-time but timely intervention by Bulls fullback Johan Roets and Heini Adams ensured that Western Province would go into half-time without scoring a try.In the second half, Western Province tried to mount a comeback through a Gerrie Britz try in the 50th minute but their fleeting illusion of another famous Loftus victory came to an end when Marius Delport bagged his first of two tries in the 54th minute followed by the Steyn drop-goal five minute later.Bolla Conradie tried to give the visitors a second wind when he scored a try on the hour mark to bring Western province to within eight points at 31-23.But from the resultant kick-off, Bulls substitute flanker Hilton Lobberts scored with his first touch after Corne Uys had failed to collect the ball from the kick-off.The floodgates opened and the Bulls scored two more quick tries to put the contest beyond doubt. Scorers Blue Bulls: Try: Derick Kuun (2), Marius Delport, Hilton Lobberts, Hottie Louw.Conversions: Derick Hougaard (3).Penalties: Derick Hougaard (3).Drop-goal: Morne Steyn.Western Province: Try: Gerrie Britz (2), Bolla Conradie.Conversion: Naas Olivier (3).Penalties: Naas Olivier (3) Nampa-Sapa