Vodacom Cup Review – Semi-finals

The Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs will contest the 2010 Vodacom Cup final after both teams secured victories in their semi-final games against The Sharks XVs at Loftus Versfeld and the Boland Kavaliers in Wellington on Saturday.   These sides will now compete for the R 1 million grand prize which is sponsored by SARU and Vodacom. The victorious team will receive R 500 000 while their provincial union will receive R 500 000 for rugby development in their region. The Vodacom Blue Bulls secured a comprehensive 33-3 win over The Sharks XVs in Pretoria as they booked themselves a place in their third straight Vodacom Cup final. Last year the hosts conceded a 28-19 defeat to the GWK Griquas in the finale that was played at Loftus Versfeld. In 2008 the team coached by Nico Serfontein were crowned Vodacom Cup champions when they defeated the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 25-21. The Pretoria outfit also won the domestic competition in 2001. The Bloemfontein outfit were crowned winners in 2000 when they outclassed the GWK Griquas 44-24 in Bloemfontein.     The Vodacom Blue Bulls ran in four tries while keeping The Sharks XVs try-less in this fixture which was played in wet and rainy conditions at Loftus Versfeld’s C Field on Saturday. The Pretoria side’s forward pack laid the perfect foundation with their regular driving mauls and dominated the tackle and breakdown areas in this match. Flanker Devin Oosthuizen, fullback Tiger Mangweni, lock Fudge Mabeta and captain Gerrit-Jan van Velze were the try-scorers for the hosts. Former SA Under-20 flyhalf Francois Brummer who dictated most of the match thanks to his clever tactical kicks added three penalties and two conversions. The Vodacom Blue Bulls boasted an early 10-3 lead after Oosthuizen scored the game’s opening try which was converted by Brummer before the Sharks XV pivot Monty Dumond kicked a penalty soon after the hosts notched up their first five-pointer. However that was also the last time that the Durban side ever troubled the scorers in this match. The physical pack of the Loftus side proved to be far superior at the breakdown, at the line-outs and was also the stronger unit at scrum time. The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs booked themselves a place in their third Vodacom Cup final following their 22-14 victory over the Boland Kavaliers in this match which was played at the Boland Stadium in Wellington on Saturday. The boot of flyhalf Louis Strydom ultimately proved to be the difference between these sides. The Free State pivot successfully kicked five penalties and converted his team’s only try which was scored by his half back partner, scrumhalf Petrus van Zyl. Jacquin Jansen converted three penalty goals in the first half, but his side failed to build much momentum during the game due to their ill-discipline. The Boland Kavaliers were penalised regularly by referee Ben Crouse for transgressions at the breakdown. This kept the hosts constantly on the back foot as did the ferocious defence of the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs which saw the Kavaliers concede numerous handling errors at crucial stages of the match. The Bloemfontein outfit coached by Pine Pienaar deserved the win as they defended well and took advantage of converting the limited scoring opportunities that went their way. Vodacom Cup Semi-final scorers: Semi-final 1 Vodacom Blue Bulls v The Sharks XV (Loftus Versfeld C Field, Pretoria) 33 - 3 Scorers: Vodacom Blue Bulls – Tries: Devin Oosthuizen, Tiger Mangweni, Fudge Mabeta, Gerrit-Jan van Velze; Conversions: Francois Brummer (2); Penalties: Brummer (3). The Sharks XV – Penalty: Monty Dumond. Semi-final 2 Boland Kavaliers v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (Boland Stadium, Wellington) 14 - 22 Scorers: Boland Kavaliers – Try: Willie le Roux; Penalties: Jacquin Jansen (3). Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – Try: Petrus van Zyl; Conversion: Louis Strydom; Penalties: Strydom (5). Please note: The date and kick off time of the 2010 Vodacom Cup Final which will be contested by the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs will be confirmed during the course of the week. Issued by SARU Communications