Another brilliant performance from the boot of Western Province flyhalf Kade Wolhuter led the coastal visitors to an impressive 41-33 (halftime 18-19) bonus-point win over the Bulls in their Currie Cup clash at Loftus on Friday night.
Wolhuter scored a try, slotted five penalties and three conversions for a haul of 26 points in another brilliant performance after he scored 19 of his side's 44 points in their opening win over the Lions a week earlier.
The match got off to a cracking start as the two sides traded four tries over the first 25 minutes, with the first points coming from the boot of Wolhuter in the second minute.
That's a full house of five points at Loftus, making it back-to-back wins to start the Currie Cup. What a performance from the ???? #wpjoulekkerding #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/EB3Fn3KI8B
— WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) March 17, 2023
The Bulls then showed great handling to counter attack after Province lost the ball in their own half, with the ball going through a number of phases and hands before ending with wing Sbu Nkosi going over for an unconverted try.
Province hit back with their own counter attack, after the Bulls lost the ball near the halfway, with eighthman Keke Morabe picking up and sprinting down the touchline, before finding scrumhalf Paul de Wet to go over untouched, with Wolhuter’s extras giving them a 10-5 lead after nine minutes.
Wolhuter was finding himself in a lot of early action and in the 18th minute De Wet took the ball from a maul and released the flyhalf to crash over to score.
FANTASTIC TRY
But the Bulls hit back in style as they worked play into the Province half, getting onto their line before a short ball to outside centre Cornal Hendricks saw him over for the try, with flyhalf Chris Smith converting to make it 15-12 after 25 minutes.
A 30th-minute penalty from Wolhuter pushed the visitors six points ahead, but it was the home side that finished the half on top.
They found themselves in the Province 22m, with lock Ruan Vermaak picking and going from a ruck, before offloading to scrumhalf Zak Burger to go over under the posts for a converted score and the halftime lead.
Western Province got off to a perfect start in the second half, getting into the Bulls 22m and spreading the ball wide for wing Ruhan Nel to dive over in the corner, with Wolhuter’s conversion putting them 25-19 up after 42 minutes.
But the Bulls came storming back with a maul try to hooker Johan Grobbelaar, followed by replacement prop Francois Klopper crashing over from close range, both converted by Smith, giving them a 33-25 lead after 55 minutes.
Straight from the kick-off Province hit back, with an outrageous offload from inside centre Jean-Luc du Plessis leading to a fantastic try to fullback Clayton Blommetjies, with Wolhuter’s extras making it a one point game.
Although he missed a couple of shots at goal earlier in the match, the unerring boot of Wolhuter then knocked them back in front and to the win as three penalties over the final 18 minutes sealed a superb away win.
???Captain, Ruan Nortje sums up the outing.??
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) March 17, 2023
???? #BULvsWP #CurrieCup @Vodacom #TrueToTheBlue #BullsHeard pic.twitter.com/zg8jQLefdN
SCORERS
Bulls: Tries - Sbu Nkosi, Cornal Hendricks, Zak Burger, Johan Grobbelaar, Francois Klopper; Conversions - Chris Smith (4
) Western Province: Tries - Paul de Wet, Kade Wolhuter, Ruhan Nel, Clayton Blommetjies; Conversions - Wolhuter (3); Penalties - Wolhuter (5)