Unbeaten Bulls bulldoze Cheetahs

07/19/2024 01:00 PM

The Vodacom Bulls toppled defending champion Cheetahs in Pretoria on Friday evening to extend their impressive run in the 2024 Currie Cup to three wins in as many matches.

Right winger Henry Immelman, who was making his first appearance of 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 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.

ALSO: WP happy with player progress

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, with the Sharks XV and Pumas bringing the curtain down on Friday's Currie Cup action in Durban from 7pm.

Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images

The post Unbeaten Bulls bulldoze Cheetahs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.