Week 6 of the Currie Cup 2009 could be the turning point in the Bulls season.

The Free State Cheetahs proved way too strong for the Platinum Leopards, winning by 71-17 in Potchefstroom. The Cheetahs wil be glad to pick up a full haul of log points and substantially improve their points differential, but it’s probably too late to make the semis unless they win virtually every game from here.

In Kimberly, the Bulls and Griquas had a tough game with very little separating the two sides. With 19 minutes remaining however a Griquas try to former Bulls player Trompie Nontshinga, gave Griquas an 11 point lead. The Bulls kept playing for the full 80, led by a superb man of the match performance from captain Dewald Potgiete. They were rewarded as Griquas lost 2 men with 5 minutes remaining.

The Bulls came home strongly and snatched a late try with less than 2 minutes to play, as Pedrie Wannenburg scored next to the posts. The conversion from Burton Francis gave the Blue Bulls a great victory, and bagged the crucial bonus point too. The Bulls players feel this could be the crucial game in ensuring they turn their season around and finish strongly.

Meanwhile the Sharks cruised to a deserved 30-19 victory over the Golden Lions at Ellis park. At 23-0 the Sharks took their foot off the accelerator, but even two late tries for the Lions could not hide the fact they were outplayed. The Sharks now move to second on the log.

Western Province earned a well-deserved 38-7 win over Boland in Wellington. The emergence of Juan de Jongh has really strengthened the Province midfield, and they now look almost assured of making the semi-finals.

As we start to close down the first half of the Currie Cup for 2009, I believe the current top 4 will all make the semi-finals and are now playing for crucial log position, and the right to earn home ground advantage at the business end of the season. Go Bulle Go!