Griquas crush Bulls in Pretoria to extend Currie Cup streak

Well, the road trip is off to a great start … the Griquas Currie Cup road trip, that is. 

The weekend's Currie Cup ended on Sunday with the Suzuki Griquas putting the Vodacom Bulls to the sword with a decisive 42-21 victory at the Tuine Sport Club in Pretoria. 

The atmosphere at Grizzlies Rugby Club, where the match was played, was carnival-like, but when the final whistle blew, it was only the Griquas who were celebrating. This marked the Bulls' third successive defeat, a performance described as forlorn as they struggled in the set pieces and allowed Griquas too much time on the ball.

The team from Kimberley bossed their hosts as they controlled the game, leading 21-7 at half-time. They ultimately secured a bonus-point win, scoring six tries to the Bulls' three. 

Griquas winger Gurswin Wehr was a standout performer, scoring a hat-trick, and confirmed the fact that on the day the Northern Cape team's dominance was clear. 

The Bulls' early hope came from an early try by fullback Stravino Jacobs, but their casual defence was punished by a resolute Griquas side. Things worsened for the Bulls after the break when captain Nama Xaba received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle. Veteran Josh Strauss even made an appearance in the 48th minute, highlighting the team's mounting injury issues. 

The Bulls' other tries came from Junior Pokomela and Katlego Letebele, with Boeta Chamberlain converting all three. 

Griquas maintain momentum

Sad to say, this result against Griquas ultimately dashed the Bulls’ play-off hopes, while Griquas are looking good after extending their winning streak to four games.

Looking at the Currie Cup log, the Cheetahs and Boland Cavaliers are currently flying high, securing wins to remain in first and second place on the table. Both teams are level on 21 points, with the Cheetahs holding a greater points difference. 

The Boland Cavaliers showcased their resilience, fighting back from a 21-3 half-time deficit to beat the Pumas 29-26 in Nelspruit. Despite receiving two yellow cards, Boland dominated the second half with three tries and a penalty try. 

The Cheetahs also held off a Lions comeback to win 47-31 in the Bloemfontein catfight, marking their fourth win in a row and ending a losing streak against the Lions that dated back to 2023. Hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg and fullback Clayton Blommetjies each scored twice for the Cheetahs in that match.

As for Griquas, they now sit third with 20 points, just one point behind the top two teams. There is a close battle in the middle of the table, with the Lions on 16 points and the Pumas on 15 points. 

The Bulls, once table-leaders in the early part of the competition, have slipped significantly and are now grouped with the Sharks and Western Province at the bottom of the log. For the Bulls to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals, they now need two bonus-point wins and other results to go in their favour. 

In a bottom-of-the-table clash, the Sharks beat Western Province 29-21 in Durban, offering some consolation for their otherwise miserable campaign. Western Province remains the only team without a win so far this season.

Focus shifts to battle in Bloemfontein

The next Currie Cup match, scheduled for Friday in Bloemfontein, will see Griquas clashing with their neighbours the Cheetahs … this Central Region derby is always tough, but highly entertaining. 

This crucial encounter could go one of two ways; it will either see the Cheetahs extend their lead at the top of the table, or Griquas could potentially jump both the Cheetahs and Boland to take the lead themselves. 

The competition remains tight as teams jostle for semi-final positions, and for the fans in Kimberley, the good news is that Griquas are looking good, on the log, and on the field of play.