The Blue Bulls returned to some vital form as they demolished the Pumas 48-17 in Witbank on Saturday.
Buoyed by a powerful forwards performance and some excellent running by their backs, the visitors turned what should have been a tricky encounter into an afternoon of tries and gave new coach Pote Human a morale-boosting victory.
Blessed with the impressive counter-attacking skills of Sevens Bok Stefan Basson and winger Marius Delport, the Bulls ran in six tries to two and bounced back after their disappointing defeat at the hands of Western Province last weekend.
The Bulls struggled in the opening period, but it didn’t take long for them to force their dominance. After a penalty apiece between the Steyn’s — Morne for the Bulls and the Pumas’ Casper — the visitors opened the game up with Francois van Schouwenburg dropping a perfect lineout ball into the hands of Heini Adams. He fired a pass to send Dries Scholtz into the game and charging down on the last line of defence.
From the recycle Tim Dlulane continued his excellent form by powering his way over from close range.
The Bulls added a penalty before Morne Steyn drew the Pumas defence and sent winger Marius Delport away on the blindside.
Delport dummied one way, and then left the defence for dead with a brilliant inside jink.
The Pumas managed to grab one back when Ashieq Wise intercepted a short pass between Pedrie Wannenburg and Heini Adams, but the Bulls struck back through Stefan Basson, who picked up a failed clearance and ran through four half-hearted tackles to make the score 27-10.
Four minutes later Warren Brosnihan sent Morne Steyn away for another blindside move and the smaller part of the field was utilised again when Wannenburg broke and sent the ball inside to get Hilton Lobberts his try.
The Bulls led 41-10 at the break and were first to score in the second half when Scholtz powered his way over the line from close range. The Pumas managed a late try by Jonathan van der Schyff, but it was too little too late. – Sapa