Tiger Mangweni

Pretoria - The handling and options were not always secure, but the Blue Bulls and Griquas proved that the ELVs can be conducive to running rugby in a Vodacom Cup match won 40-20 by the Blue Bulls at Loftus on Friday night.

The Bulls scored their fourth try for a bonus point when winger Rocco Jansen went over as the hooter sounded in the background - and the 40-20 win showed that the defending champions will not easily let go of their title.

Granted, there was some tactical naivety in not playing in the opposition's territory, and yes, the defences were probably not always as tight and secure as in the Super 14 and therefore encouraged more running.

It was nevertheless refreshing to see less kicking and more running in especially the first half where the home side scored their first try after a break by Jansen with Tiger Mangweni scoring from the ensuing ruck after only 83 seconds.

Griquas, as prepared to fling it wide as the home side, also mauled to good effect on a few occasions in the first half in another show of finesse, rather than the bashing necessitated at the higher level.

The game disintegrated somewhat in the second half and Griquas were mostly under pressure due to some good defence and more Bulls players at the breakdown.

It seemed all over when the Blue Bulls went into a 17-3 lead after a neat grubber by impressive flyhalf Francois Brummer which was rounded off by John Mametsa, but Griquas immediately replied with a good converted try by prop Albertus Buckle and the two sides went into the break with the Bulls deservedly ahead, 20-13.

The Blue Bulls pressure after the resumption took its toll and ten minutes into the second half Mangweni sauntered in after good work from Dean Greyling and Mametsa (27-13).

A Brummer drop saw the Bulls lead stretch, but never-say-die Griquas pulled back seven points through a converted Cecil Kemp try following a series of good phase ball (30-20). A Brummer penalty made it 33-20. Thereafter the Blue Bulls threw everything at the 14 Griquas players following Dewaldt Pretorius yellow card and were rewarded with Jansen's last-gasp try.

Scorers: Blue Bulls: Tries: Tiger Mangweni (2), John Mametsa, Rocco Jansen.

Conversions: Francois Brummer (4). Penalties: Brummer (3). Drop goal: Brummer.

Griquas: Tries: Albertus Buckle, Cecil Kemp. Conversions: Naas Olivier (2). Penalties: Olivier (2).