Super Rugby: Rampant Bulls win 48-18 against Southern Kings
The Bulls all but wrapped up the SA conference after completing a clinical 48-18 victory over the Southern Kings.
Last Updated: 29/06/13 7:10pm
Frans Ludeke's side had the bonus point in the bag with 35 minutes on the clock as they enjoyed the lion's share of ball and territory in Pretoria.
Tries came via Louis Fouche, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jan Serfontein and Francois Hougaard before the Kings responded through Wimpie van der Walt's brace.
But Jacques Potgieter halted any possible momentum for the Port Elizabeth franchise with a score on the hour mark, before Deon Stegmann's pushover try sealed the emphatic victory.
On board
The Bulls were on the board after just eight minutes as Fouche gathered the ball and took advantage of a gaping space to dash through and touch down under the posts before converting his own score.
The Kings reduced the deficit to four as Demetri Catrakilis slotted over the penalty and the fly-half then kicked another three points shortly after as the home side were penalised for collapsing a maul.
Steyn nailed a penalty to open up a four-point gap and the Bulls had their second try on the half-hour as Ralepelle turned the ball over in a maul and raced to the line to score, with Steyn adding the extras.
Serfontein got the third try in the corner, which Steyn successfully converted, and the Bulls were threatening to run away with things when Hougaard touched down to make it three tries in five minutes, with Steyn again converting to post a commanding 31-6 lead.
Reduced deficit
But Van der Walt's first try on the stroke of half-time reduced the deficit, with Catrakilis converting, and he had his second try 13 minutes into the second period as the visitors capitalised on a line-out drive.
The conversion was missed and Steyn booted another penalty for the Bulls before Potgieter burst onto Hougaard's pass and bulldozed over with Steyn's conversion taking the Bulls past the 40 point mark.
It was starting to become a rout and eight minutes from time Stegmann finished off a line-out drive with Steyn again converting as the Bulls completed a convincing win.