Blue Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard almost certainly kicked Western Province out of the Currie Cup with a 30-point haul at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday that sent the defending champions to their third consecutive defeat in this year’s competition.
Hougaard’s dominance far outweighed his tender age of 19, as he kicked seven penalties and a drop goal to add to Norman Jordaan’s try to cap a match-winning performance as the home side romped home 35-26.
It was the type of win that set the 30 000 crowd alight, celebrating as if it were a final victory and ended a four-year winning streak for the visitors at Loftus Versfeld.
The Bulls drove their point home in typical fashion with a dominating performance up front, pick and driving up the middle and allowing Hougaard’s boot to feed off the mistakes.
They were helped by a Province side bereft of their magical touch, one which knocked on several good attacking opportunities and allowed the young flyhalf to punish them with long raking kicks down the touchline.
Province flyhalf Chris Rossouw kept them in touch all night, but even when Egon Seconds pounced on Wylie Human’s missed kick into touch to score off the bad mistake and bring Province back within a score but when the defending champs infringed again from the kickoff, Hougaard settled the game with his ninth penalty.
Scorers: Blue Bulls: (21) 35 (Tries by Norman Jordaan. Nine Penalties and one drop goal by Derick Hougaard.)
Western Province: (13) 26 (Tries by Neil de Kock and Egon Seconds. Two conversions and four penalties by Chris Rossouw.) – Sapa