Pretoria – The Blue Bulls won the Currie Cup at Loftus when they beat the Free State Cheetahs 36-24 in a lively and high-scoring final in which they controlled matters from the outset and were never behind.

The difference in this game was the Bulls experience and the game breakers who came to the Party. Fourie du Preez , Bryan Habana and Morné Steyn did what most expect they would do the whole week.

A 21-point blitz in the opening quarter from the home side meant the Cheetahs were forced to play catch-up for the rest of the game.

The Cheetahs fought valiantly but in the end it was their discipline, which has been their strength this season, that let them down when it mattered most.

Four penalties and a drop from home fly-half Morné Steyn made sure the Cheetahs were punished for the slightest mistake.

The Blue Bulls were simply better than the visitors from the first minutes when they took a 7-0 lead to the end, with a few lapses in concentration letting in a game and at times competitive Free State Cheetahs side for three tries which kept them in the hunt.

The Blue Bulls held the Free State in the scrums and didn’t allow them the advantage in this facet and did more than their share at the breakdowns where the Bulls’ teamwork nullified the work of Heinrich Brussow on the ground.

The Blue Bulls seemed on a cruise to the biggest Currie Cup final score yet when they were ahead 24-0 after 25 minutes with three tries on the board.

But the Cheetahs, renowned for their fightback in the second half this season, came back with two excellent tries to creep to 24-14 after 35 minutes – and the game was on. A drop goal by Morne Steyn on the stroke of half-time saw the Blue Bulls go into the tunnel 27-14 ahead.

Man of the match Fourie du Preez had a major hand in all three tries and must now be arguably the best scrumhalf in South Africa’s history.