Bulls do the business against Benetton to set up home URC quarter-final

It wasn’t always easy on the eye, and there was a period when the Bulls let Benetton back into the contest just after half-time, but the Pretoria-based outfit secured a bonus-point win in their United Rugby Championship clash against the plucky Italians on Saturday.

Johan Ackermann’s charges ran out 45-19 winners after leading 26-12 at half-time, and in doing so, ensured they will have a home quarter-final in the playoffs.

The Bulls made the perfect start, with Sergeal Petersen scoring in the right-hand corner after a scything break in midfield by Canan Moodie.

Handré Pollard made no mistake with a difficult conversion to put the Bulls 7-0 up after just four minutes.

A second came in the 12th minute. This time it was Willie le Roux, in his 400th professional match, running over unopposed for a converted score and a 14-0 lead.

Benetton, determined not to let the Bulls get too far away, scored next through Louis Lynagh.

With the conversion missed, they had cut the Bulls' lead to 14-5 in the 18th minute.

The Bulls, however, extended their lead in the 29th minute when the forwards rumbled near the line to get Johan Grobbelaar over the whitewash, pushing the score out to 19-5 and needing just one more try to secure a bonus point that would guarantee a home quarter-final.

That came in the 37th minute through Cobus Wiese, who crashed over after a quick-tap penalty from Cameron Hanekom, and with Pollard converting, the Bulls led 26-5 at half-time.

But Benetton cut that lead to 26-12 on the stroke of half-time as Rhyno Smith collected a Bulls chip ahead, cut inside a defender, and raced over under the poles.

The Italian side were first to score in the second half, with Lynagh getting his second of the game and Smith converting. All of a sudden, the Bulls' lead was cut to 26-19.

Petersen, however, had other ideas, and he ghosted into space in the 58th minute, crossing for his second of the match for a 33-19 lead as the home crowd breathed a sigh of relief.

Further tries followed for Mpilo Gumede and Ruan Nortjé as the Bulls eased away in the closing stages to secure their win.

Tries: Sergeal Petersen (2), Willie le Roux, Johan Grobbelaar, Cobus Wiese, Mpilo Gumede, Ruan NortjéConversions: Handré Pollard (5)

Tries: Louis Lynagh (2), Rhyno SmithConversions: Rhyno Smith (2)