The Bulls had to endure a strong comeback from the Chiefs to win their tense Super 12 clash and keep themselves in with a chance of a semifinal place.
After two tries in the first half and a strong 23-9 lead, the Bulls took their foot off the pedal and watched as the Chiefs reeled them in and snatched a bonus point in controversial fashion.
In the end, a final try by fullback Sosene Anesi in controversial circumstances saw the Chiefs come within three points and keep their chances alive.
Anesi grappled on to a through kick and dotted down legitimately, but his foot was on the line.
While the law states that you can touch down a ball in the in-goal area by applying downward pressure and your feet need not be in play, Anesi caught the ball before dotting down and therefore, technically, the try should not have been awarded.
The Bulls had done enough though to ensure they went home with another win and kept their unbeaten record at Securicor Loftus alive.
Earlier, it was a better first half, as winger Akona Ndungane again impressed with some deft footwork.
Ndungane was instrumental in the first try, first catching Sitiveni Sivivatu on his own 22 and then forcing the turnover as the ball popped out the back of the ruck.
With a clear Bulls overlap, Victor Matfield found himself at outside centre as the ball was sent down the line and flipped it backwards for JP Nel to go over and score.
The Chiefs replied with a penalty through David Hill shortly afterward before the Bulls were denied a second try when a perfect slip pass from Pedrie Wannenburg was adjudged forward to Jacques Cronje.
Cronje was to get his try shortly before half-time as from an attacking ruck on the 22m line, he received the ball with Matfield on his back, bumped off Stephen Donald and David Hill in easy fashion and trotted through to score.
Fijian speedster Sitiveni Sivivatu got on the scoreboard midway in the second half after a stab through by Anesi that bounced perfectly for him to touch down in the corner.
In the end, the Bulls had done enough, but won’t be happy with their performance. — Sapa