Bulls march on to top of table

Wynand Olivier © Gallo Images

The old Toyota advert that things just keep going right would have been the perfect jingle for the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday, as they returned to the top of the Super 14 log with an impressive 50-35 over the Highlanders at Loftus Versfeld.

Blow-by-blow scoring

The defending Super 14 champions were in sublime attacking form as they racked up their third fifty pointer in four games (their other victory was a 48-38 win over the Waratahs) and extended their winning run in Super 14 matches at Loftus to 14 consecutive games.

For once the Bulls didn’t fall behind early. Instead, they found the perfect start against a listless looking Highlanders side as they struck hard early and had earned their bonus point by the 26th minute.

The scary thought for other teams in the competition is that the Bulls still can improve. While the Highlanders became the first team to earn a bonus point against them this year, they scored five tries – a few which came from some uncharacteristically soft moments from the champions.

Even though the scoreline is respectable, the Highlanders were always playing catch-up after they went behind early, and the result was never in any question.

With only the Hurricanes on Friday left to play before they head overseas, the Bulls now sit two points clear at the top of the second placed Crusaders, with a game in hand and can head overseas with a perfect score of 25 points from five games if they repeat their performance on Friday night.

To be honest, in the form they displayed in parts of this game, its hard not to believe they will, but the crucial part will be if they can take the Loftus form overseas, and return to secure a home semifinal and final.

The Bulls found the Highlanders defence almost non-existant, as Gary Botha strolled over on the wing in the fourth minute to open the scoring. Three minutes later Francois Hougaard went over for his first, almost in the exact same place, as he too found the gap on the outside without any resistance.

Then came probably the Bulls try of the season thus far. The Highlanders managed to claw their way into the home side’s 22 metre area, only to cough up the ball, which was sent wide to winger Gerhard van der Heever. “Shadow”, as he is known to his team-mates, jinked inside, then outside the found a gap and outsprinted four Highlanders to the tryline for a 70 metre try.

The first Highlanders try came shortly afterwards, ironically as the Bulls were going for the bonus point, as a pre-planned move went horribly wrong and the ball bobbled between Stephan Dippenaar and Wynand Olivier, only to drop perfectly for Israel Dagg to pick up and run in for a 40 metre try.

The Highlanders were very suspect under the high ball, as the Bulls found out shortly afterwards to claim the bonus point try. Zane Kirchner’s kick and chase was lost by Dagg, snaffled by Dewald Potgieter and sent wide to Wynand Olivier to go in at the corner.

Pierre Spies got his first on the half hour as another ball was lost out of the air, and this time Stephan Dippenaar picked up and sent inside for the big No8 to go in under the posts.

Dagg got his second just before the break as a simple scissor movement flummoxed the Bulls defence and kept his side’s hopes alive.

The Bulls seemed to change tactics in the second half and also found a rejuvenated Highlanders side striving for the bonus point. First Tim Boys was on the end of a try which looked way too easy and after Hougaard added his second inbetween, Robbie Robertson finished off a long range try which started in their own 22 metre area.

Jaco van der Westhuyzen was held up over the line but Spies made certain as he picked up and barged over from the resulting scrum to bring up the half century.

Dagg got his third from a quick tap penalty late in the game to give the Highlanders something to talk about on their long trip back home.

Scorers
Vodacom Bulls - Tries: Gary Botha, Francois Hougaard (2), Gerhard van den Heever, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies (2). Coversions: Morne Steyn (6). Penalty: M. Steyn.
Highlanders - Tries: Israel Dagg (3), Tim Boys, Robbie Robinson. Conversions: Matthew Berquist (3), Israel Dagg (2).

Read more on the Super 14 page.

Print| More Articles

© SuperSport.com