Griquas emphatically announced their arrival as genuine title contenders on Saturday, dismantling the Bulls 56-26 in Kimberley with a scintillating display of running rugby that had defending champions written all over it. This was the performance Griquas supporters had been craving, their first victory of the campaign delivered with the kind of clinical brilliance that won them silverware last season.
Also read: Currie Cup | Fixtures and results: Round 2 – Lions crush Pumas, Griquas overpower Bulls
For the Bulls, the defeat compounds a nightmare start to their Currie Cup campaign, two matches played, two losses suffered, and serious questions being asked about their credentials after being comprehensively outplayed in every facet of the contest.
Whilst Griquas’ backs produced champagne rugby that had the Kimberley crowd on their feet, the real foundation was laid by forwards who pulverised the Bulls in the scrums whilst their maul proved a constant attacking weapon throughout the 80 minutes.
Bulls’ early promise evaporates
The visitors made the perfect start, scoring in the third minute when centre P.A. van Niekerk showed excellent strength to reach the line after Griquas defended the initial maul well but couldn’t prevent the ball being shifted wide. The unconverted try gave the Bulls a 5-0 advantage they appeared determined to build upon.
But Griquas struck back in the 12th minute after catching the Bulls off guard from a lineout move near halfway. Bobby Alexander crossed for a converted try that gave the hosts a 7-5 lead they would never relinquish.
First-half fireworks
What followed was a 28-minute exhibition of attacking rugby from both sides. Straight from the restart, Cameron Hufke beat the Bulls defence down the touchline before pulling a hamstring. Despite the injury, he possessed the presence of mind to grubber ahead, allowing Gurswin Wehr to gather and score. George Whitehead’s conversion made it 14-5.
The Bulls responded spectacularly when Brooklyn Newman chipped ahead and Hakeem Kunene outpaced the Griquas defence to score a converted try that narrowed the gap to 14-12 in the 22nd minute.
Griquas punished slack Bulls defending when replacement Connor Mahoney sliced through before finding Alexander on his outside. The scrumhalf beat the cover to score in the corner, Whitehead converting for a 21-12 lead.
With three minutes remaining in the half, Griquas’ pack asserted dominance through a powerful attacking maul. Although the Bulls initially halted the drive, Ig Prinsloo forced his way over from the resulting ruck. Whitehead’s conversion extended the lead to 28-12.
The Bulls hit back before the break, earning a penalty deep in Griquas territory before keeping possession through 15 phases. Devon Williams stepped over on the left, the conversion reducing the deficit to 28-19 at halftime.
Second-half procession
Griquas made the ideal restart when Lourens Oosthuizen crashed over from a quick-tap penalty to make it 35-19. What followed was total domination as Alexander completed his hat-trick whilst Wehr also crossed twice more for his treble. Riyaad Bam scored the Bulls’ only second-half try, but by then the contest was long dead.
The final whistle confirmed a 56-26 demolition that serves notice, the defending champions have found their form.
