Bulls battle past 'Tahs
The Bulls boosted their hopes of retaining their Super Rugby title with a 23-17 win over New South Wales Waratahs.
Last Updated: 03/06/11 9:12pm
The Bulls boosted their hopes of retaining their Super Rugby title with a hard-fought 23-17 win over New South Wales Waratahs.
The home side clinched a fifth successive victory thanks mainly to a try either side of the half-time interval at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening.
With the scores locked at six apiece approaching the break, the Bulls put themselves into a crucial lead when centre Wynand Olivier touched down in the final minute of the half.
Successful line-out ball led to Gerhard van der Heever, drifting in off his right wing, breaking free before drawing the last defender to leave Olivier an easy run-in.
Before that, Bulls fly-half Morne Steyn and opposite number Kurtley Beale had each kicked two penalties apiece in a closely fought contest.
Lead extended
The Bulls quickly extended their lead after the re-start when, just four minutes in, winger Bjorn Basson took a pass from centre Jaco Pretorius to race in for his ninth try of the season.
Steyn added his second conversion and was also on target with what would prove to be a crucial penalty in the 68th minute.
The Waratahs had before then threatened to stage a fightback when wing Afa Pakalani dived over on the hour mark and although Beale missed the extras, two second-half penalties from his trusty boot kept his team in touch.
However, their hopes were pretty much dashed when substitute Pat O'Connor was red-carded for a head butt on fellow replacement Flip van der Merwe in the 67th minute.
Steyn slotted over the resulting penalty to move the Bulls six clear, forcing the visitors to settle for a losing bonus point that keeps them in sixth in the table.
The Bulls, meanwhile, are now up to fifth place as they continue their late charge into the play-off picture.
