The Blue Bulls scored six tries to the Falcons’s three as the home side won their first Absa Currie Cup game of the seaon at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night by 43 points to 26.
The bonus-point win for the home side didn’t produce anything for the courageous visitors who stood tall against a team that included nine players from Super 14 final.
The Falcons had an impressive first half but as the progressed the depth of the Bulls stretched the tiring Falcons as they extended their three point lead to seventeen.
The Bulls assserted themselves admirably and after scoring their bonus-point try through an impressive try by Bulls centre JP Nel they were unstoppable.
Sarel Pretorius probed the Bulls defence all night and it was his breaks which resulted in two of the Falcons’s three tries.
Falcons hooker David Britz, who was banned for two years for substance abuse, had an average outing as his lineout throwing was mediocre.
The Falcons went into the halftime break trailing by just three points –22-19 — as the home side had crossed the tryline three times. The visiting Falcons scored two tries of their own in the first forty minutes and at that stage, the game was evenly matched.
The Bulls were the first to register points from a Morne Steyn penalty in the second minute of the game. The Falcons looked more alert in the first half and Dean Okkers scored the first of two tries through the sharpness of winger Mpho Matsaung.
The Bulls scored a questionable try through winger Marius Delport who did well to stay on his feet despite a desperate tackle by Matsuang.
Bulls captain Wickus van Heerden also crossed over the tryline from a drive which came from good lineout ball.
A great break by Sarel Pretorius from a Falcons scrum in the latter stages of the first half saw Okkers dot down his second try as the visitors reeled in their hosts.
The Bulls will travel to Kimberley next weekend where they will play Griquas. – Sapa