Bulls ease past Chiefs
The encounter, played in very hot and humid conditions, produced four tries to one for the visitors – one of those a penalty try after a powerful maul.
There was also a backline try that came off the back of a powerful scrum.
Although the Chiefs did not field any of their current All Blacks, they still had a strong selection that tested the Bulls at times.
And the visitors cleared their bench in the final quarter, but still outscored their hosts.
The Bulls got out the blocks in a hurry, taking a 14-0 lead after just 11 minutes.
First inside centre Burger Odendaal burst through on the back of a powerful Bulls scrum and then the visitors were awarded a penalty try after the Chiefs repeatedly collapsed a powerful Bulls maul.
Captain Handré Pollard slotted both conversions.
The Chiefs eventually got on the board in a fast-paced game in the 15th minute, when scrumhalf Brad Weber found a gap in the Bulls' defence, sprinting down the sideline.
Captain Steven Donald slotted the conversion – leaving the score at 14-7 to the visitors when the teams went for a water break after 20 minutes in the hot and humid conditions.
Fort the next 20 minutes defence dominate proceedings, as the teams went into the half-time break with the score still at 14-7 to the Bulls.
As they did in the first half, the Bulls got off to a flyer after the break – powerful centre Dries Swanepoel going over for the visitors' third try. Pollard's conversion made it 21-7.
After the 60-minute mark water break the teams cleared their benches.
The Bulls' defence continued to hold firm, not that the Chiefs didn't have opportunities.
In the 70th minute Toni Pulu made a great break and crossed the line, only to be called back for a forward pass.
In fact the Bulls sealed an impressive win when Warrick Gelant raced across line for a try on the buzzer. Tian Schoeman added the conversion for a 28-7 margin.
The scorers:
For the Chiefs:
Try: Webber
Con: Donald
For the Bulls:
Tries: Odendaal, Penalty try, Swanepoel, Gelant
Cons: Pollard 3, Schoeman
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 Latu Vaeno, 10 Stephen Donald (captain), 9 Brad Weber, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Mitchell Karpik, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Matiaha Martin, 4 Mitchell Brown, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Mitchell Graham.
Replacements – from: Hika Elliot, Sosefo Kautai, Atu Moli, Fin Hoeata, Liam Messam, Finlay Christie, James Lowe, Toni Pulu, Joe Ravouvou , Luteru Laulala, Kane Hames.
Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Handré Pollard (captain), 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Nic de Jager, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Rudolph Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements – from: Edgar Marutlulle, Lizo Gqoboka, Jason Jenkins, Ruan Steenkamp, Piet van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Warrick Gelant, John-Roy Jenkinson, Jacobie Adriaanse, Renaldo Bothma, Francois Brummer, JT Jackson.
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)
