The Blue Bulls rescued a miserable season at Telkom Park on Friday night by beating the Elephants 41-20 in the final of the Bankfin Cup.
The match served as a farewell for both Bulls coach Eugene van Wyk and his Elephants counterpart Nelie Smith as well as a host of Bulls stars including captain Joost van der Westhuizen.
The Bulls scored twice in two minutes in the first half to jump into a 15-0 and were ahead 22-10 at halftime.
But it was the Elephants, spurred on by the biggest crowd at Telkom Park this season, who started strongest.
Three opportunities to kick at goal were not used though, as the Elephants elected to use attacking lineouts in attempt to score tries.
The Bulls defence held out, though, and Franco Smith put them ahead with a penalty. From the restart the Bulls scored again when Jannie Brooks rounded off a splendid run by Danie Rossouw.
Smith then sniped through to score a try that he converted himself to put the Bulls 15-0 up.
Some great driving runs by Jacques Greeff brought the Elephants back into the game and created a try for Vorster Venter after 25 minutes.
Just before the break McNeil Hendricks (pictured) scored a lucky try as the ball bounced cruelly for the opposition cover-defence and the stocky winger ran in for a try.
In the second half the Elephants came out fighting, but soon lost the plot as they conceded one penalty after another. Smith punished them with accurate goalkicking and finished the night with 20 points.
Hendricks scored twice more to seal matters for the Bulls and ensure the Bankfin Cup would be travelling to Pretoria. - Sapa
Scorers:
Elephants - Tries: Vorster Venter, Tobie de Jager; Conversions: Andre
Fourie (2); Penalties: Fourie (2).
Blue Bulls - Tries: Franco Smith, Jannie Brooks, McNeil Hendricks (3); Conversions: Smith (2); Penalties: Smith (4).