Blue Bulls again sneak in after the hooter

May 7 - As they did in 2008, the Blue Bulls again denied the Free State Cheetahs the Vodacom Cup with a nail-biting 31-29 on the Loftus B-field on Friday. This time it was with a drop kick from their flyhalf Francois Brummer .

Playing with impunity from the referee and plenty of guts the Free State side had the better of the first half against a Blue Bulls side that didn’t adapt to the often off-side of the visitors around the rucks and in the backline. Added to a solid and very aggressive defence of the Free State pack around the edges, the Blue Bulls seemed rattled, reports Sapa.

The visitors were nevertheless full value for their 16-8 lead, despite a penalty and conversion missed by Blue Bulls flyhalf Francois Brummer which would have made things look better for his side.

The Bulls won a few lineouts against the throw before halftime, but the possession was seldom good enough to take advantage of. And with Free State fullback George Whitehead and his wings steady under some well-placed up-and-unders, the Blue Bulls seemed to have a mountain to climb as they went into the break 16-8 behind which became 19-8 with the unerring boot of Strydom adding a penalty shortly after halftime.

Inconsistency by referee Jafta puzzled both sides, but the Bulls seemed to have set aside their first-half problems with the referee and used their possession more effectively after the break.

They started winning good lineout ball, and spread it slightly wider from the rucks to avoid the off-side Free State forwards. It worked.

Seemingly out of the game, they game back with a great converted try under the posts which was rounded off by Sevens Springbok Deon Helberg (19-15). Then Ernst Dinkelmann, on for injured John Mametsa, scored after more ghood interlinking from the Blue Bulls and with the conversion good, the home side went ahead 22-19.

Brummer, who had a torrid time in the first half but nevertheless showed classy touches before the break, then got a poor pass and with a flat drop. It was obviously not connected as he intended, but the strike from about 48 metres out made it 25-19. Strydom pulled back three points with another penalty and with Brummer reciprocating and it was back to a six-point lead for the Bulls at 28-22.

Then, with about four minutes remaining, prop Riaan Vermeulen of the Free State drove over after a quick penalty had been taken. With Strydom, who had missed only one from eight kicks on target again, the Cheetahs sneaked ahead 29-28.