Unbeaten Bulls bulldoze Cheetahs

07/19/2024 01:00 PM

The Vodacom Bulls beat the Cheetahs in Pretoria on Friday to extend their impressive start to the 2024 Currie Cup to three wins.

Right winger Henry Immelman, who was making his first appearance in the competition this season, dotted down either side of the break as the Bulls converted a 17-6 half-time lead into a 25-13 victory over the defending champions at Loftus Versfeld.

For the Cheetahs, it was a first defeat of the campaign and the Free Staters must regroup to face the Griffons in Welkom in seven days' time, while Phiwe Nomlomo's charges will renew hostilities with DHL Western Province next Saturday.

First-half tries from No 8 Mpilo Gumede and Immelman, plus two conversions and a penalty from flyhalf Chris Smith, powered the Bulls in front at Loftus on Friday, while six points from Ethan Wentzel kept the Cheetahs within touching distance at the interval.

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Immelman completed his brace soon after the restart to extend the hosts' advantage, but loose forward Daniel Maartens pulled one back for the visitors before the close of the third quarter. Wentzel added the extras to make it a nine-point game with less than 20 minutes left on the clock.

However, Maartens went from hero to villain after seeing yellow for a breakdown infringement, and replacement Bulls playmaker Jaco van der Walt split the uprights from the kicking tee inside the closing stages to cap off a solid performance from The Herd.

Earlier in Johannesburg, flyhalf Sam Francis kicked eight points as the Lions beat Griquas 25-13 at Ellis Park, before the Pumas triumphed 31-21 against the Sharks XV in Durban to bring the curtain down on Friday's Currie Cup action.

Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images

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