Blue Bulls upset Golden Lions in Currie Cup

The Blue Bulls moved up to second in the Currie Cup standings after they beat the Golden Lions 31-17 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.

It was a tight affair in the first half, and the home side went into the break 16-10 ahead. But in the end the Bulls outscored the Lions by three tries to two, while their flyhalf Tian Schoeman also contributed 16 points from the kicking tee.

The Bulls took the lead in the second minute when Schoeman slotted his first penalty of the clash. The flyhalf then added another three points 14 minutes later after a Lions player was blown up for a dangerous tackle.

The Lions opened their account in the 20th minute when their flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff kicked a penalty of his own, but Schoeman soon restored the Bulls’ six-point lead after yet another Lions infringement.

The visitors took the lead for the first time in the match in the 26th minute after Howard Mnisi crossed the line to score. Centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg took the ball up powerfully, before scrumhalf Ross Cronje also made a few vital metres, which allowed Mnisi to cross the line.

But the Bulls hit back just after the half-hour mark and regained the lead when right wing Travis Ismaiel came up with an interception and scored under the posts. The Bulls then stretched their lead six minutes after the break when lock Marvin Orie went over the line to score after a clever lineout move.

The Lions were losing a lot of ball in contact as they tried to up the tempo to get back in the game. But SA Sevens star Kwagga Smith would pull his team back just on the hour mark when he ran through the Bulls defence to score.

But a Schoeman penalty soon afterwards again pushed the Bulls’ lead to seven points, before flanker Joshua Stander scored the home side’s third try six minutes from the end to secure their victory.

Final Score Blue Bulls 31(16) Golden Lions 17(10)

Scorers

Blue Bulls
Tries: Travis Ismaiel, Marvin Orie, Joshua Stander.
Conversions: Tian Schoeman (2).
Penalties: Schoeman (4).

Golden Lions
Try: Howard Mnisi, Kwagga Smith.
Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (2).
Penalties Boshoff