It was bad-tempered and it was close, but the Blue Bulls held off Western Province to win 26-17 in a Absa Currie Cup rugby match at Newlands on Saturday.
A dubious decision by the television official allowing a Derick Kuun try when it appeared as if he had lost the ball forward.
After lengthy deliberations the try was awarded, giving the Bulls a 16-3 lead with a quarter of the match remaining.
Two Morné Steyn penalties and a drop goal put the Bulls into a 9-3 lead and after Kuün’s try, it seemed as if Province were dead and buried.
Province then opted to aim their attack more directly and it paid dividends when Luke Watson came up with the ball at the back of a lineout.
Peter Grant converted to close the gap to six points, but another drop goal from Steyn stretched the Bulls’ lead to nine points.
Province hit back with their second try after a succession of lineout drives had been checked. Then Grant squeezed through close to the poles from a Watson pass. He also converted to close the gap to two points with six minutes to go.
Province could smell victory and from the restart they tried to run the ball from within their own 25. A bad pass from the otherwise excellent Conrad Jantjes went astray and Bulls winger Trompie Nontshinga was on hand to pick up and score the match-clinching try. – Sapa