Bulls power past Brumbies
The Bulls beat the Brumbies 50-32 to secure their second win on the trot in the Super 14 in Pretoria on Saturday.
Last Updated: 21/02/10 3:58pm
The Bulls beat the Brumbies 50-32 to secure their second win on the trot in the Super 14 in Pretoria on Saturday.
The home side were well below their best for the first half, trailing 21-20 at the break, yet still managed to put 50 points and five tries on a strong-looking visiting outfit.
The Brumbies started as such - taking the ball up with intent and refusing to take a step back in the tackle.
Their game plan caught the hosts a little by surprise and they were forced to watch Stirling Mortlock kick a penalty as early as the first minute.
The Bulls' very own scoring machine Morne Steyn missed his first shot at goal from 55m out, but was on target with his next kick to level the scores a few minutes later.
Rhythm
The defending champions were starting to find a bit of rhythm but the Brumbies responded with a well worked try for debutant Rocky Elsom, who managed to power over in the corner.
Mortlock was unsuccessful with the sideline conversion, but the Brumbies were in front and in charge.
Steyn managed to reduce the gap with another trademark three-pointer but not before the Brumbies increased their lead following an unusual mistake from Fourie du Preez.
The Bulls number nine was stripped of possession by Elsom, and could only look on as George Smith carried the turnover ball for an opportunist try under the posts.
Mortlock added the extras and the visitors were 17-6 ahead.
There was good fortune in the Bulls' immediate response - Du Preez picking up the ball and running in at the line, with referee Mark Lawrence helping him out as he obstructed prop Ben Alexander's attempted tackle.
Steyn converted, but again the visitors came back strongly with Mortlock putting the ball over easily after the hosts conceded a penalty.
There was no good fortune about the home side's second try, however, which came after patient build-up play - Du Preez eventually picking out Steyn to cut through close to the post.
The conversion was added but, just as the Bulls appeared to be heading into the break in the lead, Mortlock sent over another three-pointer to hand his side a 21-20 lead.
Straight from the restart, a moment of brilliance from Matt Giteau extended the lead further - the Brumbies number ten sending over a drop-goal from more than 40 metres out.
Fightback
Another penalty from Mortlock followed making it a seven-point game, but the Bulls then began their fightback.
First Steyn continued to show his accuracy with another penalty, followed by two tries - the first seeing Gerhaard van den Heever make the most of a loose ball at the back of the line-out.
He controlled well and then eased his way over the line, with a bonus-point touchdown coming seconds later when centre Wynand Olivier found a gap in the Brumbies defence and charged through to score in the left corner.
Steyn converted on both occasions and the gap was suddenly ten points in the Bulls' favour - the win soon being sealed.
The Brumbies face an arduous trip to Cape Town next week, while the Bulls brace for another testing encounter against the Waratahs.
