Bloemfontein – The Bulls ended their campaign on a high with a 43-17 victory over the Cheetahs in their Super Rugby match in Bloemfontein on Saturday evening.
Although the Cheetahs scored two late tries, the Bulls dominated for much of the encounter by scoring five tries as they underlined their ability with ball in hand.
Ultimately, the bonus point win for the Bulls meant little as they failed to progress to the playoffs. For the Cheetahs, it was their fifth loss in their last 10 games at home against South African opposition.
The visitors moved into a 6-0 lead after 14 minutes with Bulls flyhalf Tian Schoeman slotting two penalties.
The Cheetahs got on the board in the 21st minute when Cheetahs number 10 Fred Zeilinga nailed a penalty to make it 6-3.
It would not be long, however, before the Bulls scored the first try of the match in the 25th minute. A straightforward backline move by the Pretoria outfit proved too much to handle for the hosts as Bulls wing Travis Ismaiel barged over for the score. Schoeman was unable to add the extra two, but the Bulls held on for an 11-3 lead.
Three minutes later, the Bulls scored their second try. The Bulls were gifted another score as number 8 Renaldo Bothma gathered a short ball from a lineout and ran unhindered through a vacant Cheetahs defence to dot down under the posts. Schoeman chipped the ball over for the conversion to make it 18-3.
After 10 minutes play in the second half, Schoeman added another three for the Bulls with a penalty to make it 21-3.
Cheetahs fullback Clayton Blommetjies scored the first try of the match for his side after the hosts worked through a number of phases in the Bulls 22. The final ball fell to Blommetjies who barged through his tackler to dot down over the line. Zeilinga made it 21-10 with a successful conversion.
The Bulls poached a try in the 58th minute when Bothma was quick to react to Blommetjies holding onto the ball in his own 22. Bothma showed his strength to steal the ball from the number 15 at the breakdown before darting over for the try. Schoeman added the conversion to make it 28-10.
On the hour mark, Schoeman took the score to 31-10 with another penalty.
The Bulls were over for another try in the 66th minute, as they worked the ball through the hands quickly in the Cheetahs 22 with Ismaiel beating his marker to go over in the corner. Schoeman missed the conversion, but the Bulls had effectively sealed the contest beyond doubt at 36-10 ahead.
The Cheetahs scored a try in the 76th minute as replacement lock Carl Wegner pulled five Bulls defenders over the line with him. The conversion was good from Zeilinga to make it 36-17.
Jamba Ulengo provided the final try on the night for the Bulls as he caught a poorly-executed clearance by the Cheetahs in their own 22, and he sprinted over the whitewash to help secure a comprehensive scoreline. Francois Brummer slotted the conversion from the touchline to make it 43-17.
Scorers
Bulls 43 (18): Tries: Travis Ismaiel (2), Renaldo Bothma (2), Jamba Ulengo. Conversions: Tiaan Schoeman (2), Francois Brummer. Penalties: Schoeman (4)
Cheetahs 17 (3): Tries: Clayton Blommetjies, Carl Wegner. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (2). Penalty: Zeilinga.
– ANA