THE Blue Bulls will gladly take their bonus point win on Friday night in the opening round of the Currie Cup season against the Pumas at Loftus Versfeld, but they will be the first to admit it was not a convincing display.
THE Blue Bulls will gladly take their bonus point win on Friday night in the opening round of the Currie Cup season against the Pumas at Loftus Versfeld, but they will be the first to admit it was not a convincing display.
It wasn't pretty as they ran in five tries, but then again opening matches of a season seldom are.
Apart from an early Pumas penalty by flyhalf Ricardo Croy, the newly-promoted team was always playing catch-up.
Having lost 11 players to the Springboks, the Bulls battled to find their rhythm, and the Pumas' "in-your-face" style of play meant there were many infringements during the 80 minutes of play on a chilly night in front of a crowd of 6000.
Bulls wing John Mametsa's two tries were enough for him to grab the man of the match award.
Mametsa's all-round game has improved, as he demonstrated when kicking off both feet.
Others to get on the score sheet for the Bulls were Stefan Watermeyer, Dean Greyling, Stephan Dippenaar and hard-working flanker Deon Stegmann.
The luckless Pumas never gave up and were rewarded with tries by scrumhalf Tian Meyer and replacement back Alistair Kettledas.
Visiting coach Jimmy Stonehouse said: "To get a hiding like that in the first 20 minutes was tough. My guys got back up well just before half-time."
"In our next match against the Leopards we will be looking at getting all five points."
Other Currie Cup results: Lions 43, Leopards 13; Griquas 40, Sharks 34; Western Province 25, Cheetahs 11.
Bulls not at best against Pumas
THE Blue Bulls will gladly take their bonus point win on Friday night in the opening round of the Currie Cup season against the Pumas at Loftus Versfeld, but they will be the first to admit it was not a convincing display.
THE Blue Bulls will gladly take their bonus point win on Friday night in the opening round of the Currie Cup season against the Pumas at Loftus Versfeld, but they will be the first to admit it was not a convincing display.
It wasn't pretty as they ran in five tries, but then again opening matches of a season seldom are.
Apart from an early Pumas penalty by flyhalf Ricardo Croy, the newly-promoted team was always playing catch-up.
Having lost 11 players to the Springboks, the Bulls battled to find their rhythm, and the Pumas' "in-your-face" style of play meant there were many infringements during the 80 minutes of play on a chilly night in front of a crowd of 6000.
Bulls wing John Mametsa's two tries were enough for him to grab the man of the match award.
Mametsa's all-round game has improved, as he demonstrated when kicking off both feet.
Others to get on the score sheet for the Bulls were Stefan Watermeyer, Dean Greyling, Stephan Dippenaar and hard-working flanker Deon Stegmann.
The luckless Pumas never gave up and were rewarded with tries by scrumhalf Tian Meyer and replacement back Alistair Kettledas.
Visiting coach Jimmy Stonehouse said: "To get a hiding like that in the first 20 minutes was tough. My guys got back up well just before half-time."
"In our next match against the Leopards we will be looking at getting all five points."
Other Currie Cup results: Lions 43, Leopards 13; Griquas 40, Sharks 34; Western Province 25, Cheetahs 11.
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