The Bulls got the game off to a quick start, with Bulls flanker Nizaam Carr scoring their first try within the first five minutes. 

Jaco van der Walt’s conversion and penalty kick brought the score up to 10 – 0. Ethan Wentzel succeeded with a penalty for the Cheetahs, bringing the score to 10 – 3 at half-time.

It was a fierce battle to come out on top in the second half, with the Bulls scoring three, and the Cheetahs five tries.  Bulls scrum-half Zak Burger and centre Aphiwe Dyantyi scored in quick succession at the start of the second half, but the Cheetahs hit back with a vengeance in the 50th minute.  

‘The Cheetahs also scored one more try’

The first try came from number eight Friedle Olivier, followed by tries from full-back Cohen Jasper, winger Munier Hartzenberg, and lock Carl Wegner.  Wentzel converted two of the tries and it was game on in Bloemfontein.

However, Dyantyi wasn’t done scoring and went over the line for his second try with 10 minutes to go. The Cheetahs also scored one more try, courtesy of substitute Vernon Paulo, but it was a 50-metre penalty in the 78th minute from Bulls full-back Boeta Chamberlain that levelled the scores at 34 – 34 at the final whistle.  

The Bulls remain on top of the log with 15 points thanks to the three points they take back to Pretoria. The Cheetahs remain very much in the running in second place with 15 points.

The Bulls will face the Griffons on 10 August at home, while the Cheetahs will travel to Cape Town on the same day to take on Western Province.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cg/ mvh