Bulls finish 2011 on a high

Bulls finish 2011 on a high

14 Oct 2011

GARETH DUNCAN writes the Bulls eased to a 92-21 victory over the Leopards, which should be their final match of the year.

The Bulls require the Pumas to pick up a major upset win over WP at Newlands on Saturday for any chance of semi-final qualification. But with Province naming a Springbok-laden match 22, victory for the Witbank-based minnows is highly unlikely – which means the Bulls’ season has finished with their 71-point thrashing of the lowly Leopards.

Apart from a defensive lapse in the second quarter, the Bulls were dominant as they scored 14 tries. Wing Bjorn Basson was the star, scoring a second-half hat-trick while No 8 CJ Stander and lock Juandre Kruger grabbed a brace each in a strong forwards display over their hapless opponents.

The Bulls started the first stanza on the perfect note, sealing their four-try bonus-point inside 25 minutes. They scored their fifth try three minutes later when Juandre Kruger rushed over. But the Bulls dropped their guard on defence and a poor finish to the opening 40 allowed the Leopards to cut the deficit to 14 points as they crossed the chalk through flyhalf Wesley Dunlop, inside centre Joubert Engelbrecht and fullback Hoffman Maritz. The half-time score read 35-21.

The floodgates opened after the break, with the Bulls running in another nine tries in the second half. The Leopards couldn’t add any points to their tally as they played with 14 men for 20 minutes after flanker Luvuyiso Lusaseni and lock Bradley Mockford were sin binned for cynical and dangerous play respectively.

Skipper Gary Botha scored his first try of the season at the death in his final game for the Bulls. The 30-year-old will head for French club Toulouse. For the Leopards, however, they ended their tenure in the Premier Division with a heavy loss.


16 Comments

  • 1.ShaunSwindon: Reply to this comment
    14 Oct 2011, 18:51 pm

    Leopards getting slaughtered Dragons :D

  • 2.blueboy: Reply to this comment
    14 Oct 2011, 21:32 pm

    Last week`s defeat against griquas looks like it will come back to bite them i still find it hard to believe they lost that game,but what`s done is done i can only hope the 2nd raters lose tomorrow aganst the pumas.Well done to the bulls tonight and thank you garry botha for all your loyal service to the bulls wishinhg you and your family all the very best in france.

  • 3.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    14 Oct 2011, 21:34 pm

    If WP don’t score 4 tries and win by less than 13 points then the Bulls will go through.

  • 4.Tuna: Reply to this comment
    14 Oct 2011, 21:46 pm

    Good thing I subbed my fantasy team with these Bullies.

  • 5.blueboy: Reply to this comment
    14 Oct 2011, 22:08 pm

    #3 Tacitus i hope the pumas win tomorrow but i cannot see it happening,i do not think miracles apply to rugby,but i am hoping for one tomorrow.

  • 6.Rugbyprof: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 02:00 am

    So Tac’s beloved blue boys have not made it to the semi’s. Shame, shame. How the mighty have fallen! Clinging onto the hope that the Pumas will do them a favour. Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

  • 7.Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 02:02 am

    @Rugbyprof(rugbyprof)-6:

    stupid
    post

  • 8.Pretoria waves the rules: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 03:50 am

    Yes Prof @ 6, you must be new to this site. Don’t you know it is only Bulls supporters who allowed to hurl the abuse here. LOL!

  • 9.vasteses: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 07:29 am

    ag nou great game gister, nog n klein venster van hoop. as julle dit ni emaak nie is dit ok, ons het great jogges wat deur kom sien uit na toekoms

  • 10.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 07:53 am

    Te min, te laat.

  • 11.grant10: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 08:17 am

    i will be a nervous spectator at Newlands later this afternoon….

    Great to have Aplon….Habana [ last game at newlands? ] J dE Jongh …J DE Villiers and the rest back….

    Dont blow it boys!!

  • 12.Gareth: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 09:43 am

    @Tacitus(Deucalion)-3: Don’t need four tries, just a 14-point win.

  • 13.KenB: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 10:59 am

    Amazing how the little people turn on the Bulls. Province have not won the Curry Cup in 10 seasons.

  • 14.Rugbyprof: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 11:15 am

    @Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-7: stupid
    name

  • 15.Tuna: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 12:41 pm

    @grant10(grant10)-11: Habana signed on for another year with Province. They love to waste $$

  • 16.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    15 Oct 2011, 14:32 pm

    For me the Bulls brought in quite a few youngsters and WP too!! Sharks only brought youngsters in th forwards… No backline players except Sithole!! Chance is gone now…

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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