Herman Mostert

Cape Town - Griquas have stunned the Blue Bulls in a thrilling Currie Cup clash in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon.

The men from Kimberley won the seesaw battle 48-44 after leading 27-22 at half-time.

The Bulls got off to a solid start via a drop goal from flyhalf Louis Fouche in the third minute, which was preceded by a brilliant sniping break from scrumhalf Jano Vermaak.

Griquas levelled matters three minutes later with a penalty from fullback Rudi Vogt.

The men from Pretoria responded swiftly though - as lock Juandre Kruger's break set up a try for speedster Bjorn Basson in the 10th minute. Fouche converted to put the Bulls 10-3 up.

The Bulls extended their lead five minutes later when right wing Akona Ndungane - back after an injury layoff - dotted down. Fouche missed the conversion (15-3).

However, the response from the home side was immediate when Vogt swerved his way through for a five pointer. He converted for a five point deficit (15-10).

Griquas should have scored a couple of minutes later when flanker Justin Downey broke through on the far side touchline but he somehow failed to see winger Rocco Jansen on his outside and instead decided to take contact. Had he passed, Jansen would have cantered through.

However, luckily for Griquas - and Downey in particular - Jansen managed to score a few minutes later after a solid break from hooker Ryno Barnes. Vogt converted to put the home side ahead for the first time after 27 minutes.

But the Bulls' response was immediate when centre Francois Venter's sensational break set up Basson's second try under the posts. Fouche converted for a 22-17 lead.

Another Vogt penalty brought the home side to within two points in the 31st minute and they regained the lead in the 34th minute when winger Dusty Noble broke brilliantly after a lineout. Vogt converted from right out in front to put the hosts 27-22 up at halftime.

The visitors started the second half the same as the first - with a brilliant run from scrumhalf Vermaak - but this time he went all the way to dot down under the posts in the 42nd minute. Fouche converted for a 29-27 lead.

The Bulls received a setback two minutes later when captain Gary Botha was sin-binned for a professional foul. However, despite having the numerical disadvantage, the men from Pretoria took control of proceedings - especially through their heavy pack of forwards.

Fouche kicked another penalty to stretch their lead to five points in the 53rd minute.

A converted try from flanker Jacques Potgieter three minutes later took the Bulls out to a 12 point lead. (39-27)

However, just when the Bulls - now back to a full compliment of 15 players with Botha back from the sin-bin - seemed likely to run away with proceedings, the home side awoke from their mid-afternoon slump.

And when centre Matthew Rosslee scored in the 62nd minute after a period of consistent pressure on the Bulls line, Griquas seemed to have a new lease on life. Vogt converted to reduce the gap to five (34-39).

Suddenly there was new vigour in the hosts and Jansen rounded off a brilliant backline move to score his second try to level matters in the 64th minute.

Vogt converted to put them back in front (41-39).

Rosslee then went over for his second score five minutes later and Vogt succeeded with the crucial conversion to stretch their lead to more than seven with 10 minutes left.

Griquas then held out for the last 10 minutes before Potgieter scored his second try on the stroke of full-time to reduce the final score to 44-48.

That last try gave the Bulls another consolation bonus point for losing with fewer than seven points, but they remain outside of the top four on the log standings.

Jansen was awarded with the Man-of-the-Match accolade.

Scorers:

Griquas:

Tries - Rudi Vogt, Rocco Jansen (2), Dusty Noble, Matthew Rosslee (2)

Coversions: Vogt (6)

Penalties: Vogt (2)

Blue Bulls:

Tries: Bjorn Basson (2), Akona Ndungane, Jano Vermaak, Jacues Potgieter (2)

Conversions: Louis Fouche (4)

Penalty: Fouche

Drop goal: Fouche

Teams:

Griquas:
15 Rudi Vogt, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Matthew Rosslee, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 5 George Earle, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Ivann Espag

Substitutes: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Jaco Nepgen, 19 Burger Schoeman, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Earl Rose, 22 Monty Dumond/Fabian Juries

Blue Bulls:
15 Gerhard van Heever, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouche, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Dean Greyling

Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Warwick Tecklenburg