Bulls wound Cheetahs

POLOKWANE – Polokwane’s Vodacom Bulls supporters were delighted with their favourite team’s 30-13 victory over the Toyota Cheetahs during a Super Rugby pre-season friendly warm-up match, which was played at the Peter Mokaba Sport Complex on Saturday.

Cheetahs flyhalf, Joe Petersen was the first player to put points on the scoreboard, slotting a penalty for the Cheetahs to take an early lead in the 10th minute of the match. Petersen also scored a brilliant drop goal.

However, the Bulls had a three-point lead of 9-6 going into the second half, with Jacques Louis Potgieter slotting three penalties.

The second half saw more action at the try-line, with the Bulls’ Piet van Zyl darting around the ruck and scoring the first try of the match. Tiaan Schoeman’s conversion put the score at 16-6 in favour of the Bulls in the 64th minute.

Van Zyl scored his second try of the match after a great off-load from Travis Ismaeil in the 72nd minute.

This try was followed by an unstoppable intercepted try from Duncan Matthews a mere two minutes later, giving the Bulls a 30-6 lead with six minutes left on the clock.

Francois Venter scored a consolation try for the Cheetahs in the last minute of the game that was converted by Francois Brummer, bringing the final score to 30-13.

The Bulls will play a second warm-up match against Saracens next week before they officially start their Super Rugby campaign against the DHL Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on February 14.

Vodacom Blue Bulls scorers:

• Piet van Zyl, two tries, 10 points.

• Duncan Matthews, one try, five points.

• Tiaan Schoeman, three conversions, six points.

• Jacques Louis Potgieter, three penalties, nine points.

Toyota Cheetahs scorers:

• Joe Petersen, one penalty and one drop goal, six points.

• Francois Venter, one try, five points.

• Francois Brummer, one conversion, two points.