The visitors was on the scoreboard first as scrumhalf Jaywinn Juries landed a penalty goal and then no. 8 Jean Pretorius crossed the whitewash for a converted try.

The home team eventually woke from their slumber as wing Duncan Matthews and flyhalf Fiela Boshoff scored in the 21st and 31st minutes respectively. Inside centre JT Jackson converted both tries while Juries added another penalty goal.

Unfortunately the first half ended on a sour note for the visitors as lock Gavin Annandale was yellow carded just before the teams headed to the sheds with the Vodacom Blue Bulls holding a slender 14-13 lead at the break.

The men from Pretoria capitalised on their numerical advantage early into the second half as captain and flank Ruan Steenkamp scored in the 45th minute and followed up with a second try four minutes later which secured the bonus point. Jackson was on song with both conversions.

The visitors from Welkom managed to pull back a try courtesy of inside centre Arthur Williams which Juries duly converted to bring his team back into the match.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls had the final say in the match as Diego Appollis scored his team's fifth try and Jackson's conversion handed them a well deserved, but hard-fought 35-20 win.

Scorers:

Vodacom Blue Bulls - Tries: Duncan Matthews, Fiela Boshoff, Ruan Steenkamp (2) Diego Appollis. Conversions: JT Jackson (5).

Down Touch Griffons - Tries: Jean Pretorius, Arthur Williams; Conversions: Jaywinn Juries (2). Penalties: Juries (2).