The Bulls have secured their spot in the semi-finals of the Currie Cup following a bonus point 47-24 win against the Suzuki Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Celimpilo Gumede and Juann Else each scored tries for the Bulls as they ran in seven tries in Proteas to retain their unbeaten status in the Currie Cup and this after the Griquas got off to a flying start after two early tries.

Jaco van der Walt, Chris Smit, and Henry Immelman all crossed the whitewash for the Bulls.

On the side of the visitors from Kimberley the former Blitzbok Dylan Maart scored a brace of tries while Marco de Witt and Cebo Dlamini each dotted down as well to each themselves a try bonus point from the trip to the capital city.

The Bulls led 26-19 at halftime and shifted gears in the second half. The Griquas did however have two tries disallowed as on both occasions the TMO decided that there were the slightest of forward passes in the build-up to the scores. The potential 14 points that went begging certainly would have had an influence on the game, but there is no denying that these were the correct calls.

The win moved the Bulls up to 36 points on the log. This is enough to ensure the Bulls will play in the semi-finals. Even if the 5th placed Pumas earn a full house of five points in each of their remaining three games they can only move up to 34 points, but they are still in for a shout of reaching the semi-finals.

Next week Friday the Griquas will tackle the Cheetahs in Kimberley, while the Bulls in turn host the second-placed Lions in a Jukskei derby in Pretoria.

Scorers

Bulls: Tries - Celimpilo Gumede 2, Juann Else 2, Jaco van der Walt, Chris Smit, Henry Immelmann Conv. - Jaco van der Walt 4, Boeta Chamberlain 2

Griquas: Tries - Marco de Witt, Dylan Maart 2, Cebo Dlamini Conv. - Zinedine Robinson 2

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh