Bulls blitz hapless Griquas

Kimberley - A dominant second-half showing has powered the Blue Bulls to a 52-10 triumph against Griquas in the Currie Cup on Saturday.

The result kept alive the winners' chances of making the semi-finals and virtually condemned the losers to a promotion-relegation play-off against the second-tier champions.

It was a record victory this season for the Pretoria outfit, who led 15-10 at half-time, and a record loss for the Kimberley side.

The Bulls wrapped up a bonus-point victory with early second-half tries from debutant centre William Small-Smith and lock Paul Willemse in warm, windy conditions.

A turnover and two skip passes set up left-wing Akona Ndungane to send Small-Smith over and man-of-the-match Willemse used his huge physique to touch down.

Willemse and Small-Smith claimed two tries each and flanks Wian Liebenberg and Jacques du Plessis and full-back Jurgen Visser one apiece.

Flyhalf Handre Pollard contributed 17 points from four conversions and three penalties, while missing three other shots at goal.

Griquas total came from a penalty try converted by full-back Gouws Prinsloo, who also slotted a penalty for a home team lacking their traditional fighting spirit.

The drubbing completed a bad week for the cinderella side with coach Pote Human and assistant Abr Minnie announcing they were leaving at the end of the season.

Western Province pipped Cheetahs 29-27 in Bloemfontein and Sharks edged Lions 31-25 in Johannesburg Friday to share top place with 28 points.

Lions have 21, Cheetahs 17, Bulls 16 and Griquas 10 with two league rounds left and the top four finishers advance to the semi-finals.

Scorers:

Blue Bulls 52 - Tries: Wiaan Liebenberg , Jacques Du Plessis, William Small-Smith (2), Paul Willemse (2), Jurgens Visser; Conversions: Handré Pollard (4); Penalties: Pollard (3)

Griquas 10 - Try: Penalty try; Conversion: Gouws Prinsloo; Penalty: Prinsloo

Teams:

Griquas:

15 Gouws Prinsloo , 14 Richard Lawson, 13 JP Nel, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Richard Lawson, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Burger Schoeman, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Ryno Barnes (captain), 1 Steph Roberts

Substitutes: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17 Brendan Pitzer, 18 Patrick O’Brien, 19 RJ Liebenberg, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Du Randt Gerber, 22 Jean Stemmet

Blue Bulls:

15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Akona Ndungane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jono Ross (captain), 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Marcel van der Merwe

Substitutes: 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17 Frik Kirsten/Dean Greyling, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Ulrich Beyers, 22 Clayton Blommetjies