The Blue Bulls resurrected their Currie Cup defence with a big, yet uninspiring 61-20 victory over the Vodacom Eagles at Securicor Loftus on Saturday.
In a game which showed little flair and many mistakes, the defending champs partially righted the wrongs in their massive defeat at the hands of Western Province at Newlands last weekend by running in nine tries to two as the floodgates literally opened in the second half.
The Eagles were a handful in the first half, but soon found their mistakes punished as the game went on and were never able to close the gap.
The Blue Bulls will now face the Lions next weekend in a game which will probably end one of the two sides’ Currie Cup campaigns.
Captain Anton Leonard celebrated his 50th game in style, grabbing a brace of tries on the afternoon, but was overshadowed by a magnificent all-round performance by flanker Johan Wassermann who scored four tries.
The two worked as partners-in-crime and along with lock Geo Cronje and midfielder Ettienne Botha the other big catalysts in the victory, which was not indicative the low quality of the rugby played in the game.
The Bulls grabbed their opportunities well, with Leonard grabbing the first try after a swinging scrum turned the ball over and Wassermann put him into space to run in for the score.
Wassermann took the favour back from his captain shortly afterwards by collecting the ball on the line and falling over after a storming run by Leonard, before the Eagles broke the silence with a well-worked try by Noel Oelschig.
Oelshig took a quick tap penalty and sent it wide to a flying Manie du Toit, who sent it back inside for the Eagles first try.
Both sides grappled with half chances until the Bulls took the upper hand when Gary Botha broke free of a ruck to dive under the posts to send his side 21-13 into half-time.
Leonard added his second by being on the end of a major Bulls attack, before Wassermann found himself on the end of another and took his second try.
The try of the match came shortly afterwards, with winger John Mametsa sprinting 40 metres down the touchline and beating the defence with pure pace for a gem of a try.
The Eagles replied with a breakaway try from Ricardo Pieterson, but it was too little too late.
Scorers Blue Bulls -tries: Anton Leonard (2), Johan Wasserman (4), Gary Botha, John Mametsa, Fourie du Preez. Conversions: Louis Strydom (8).
SWD Eagles – tries: Noel Oelschig, Ricardo Pieterson. Conversions: Oelschig (2). Penalties: Oelschig (2).