Bulls slaughter Queensland Reds - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Bulls slaughter Queensland Reds

16/04/2005 05:51:09 AM Comments (0)

Winger Akona Ndungane scored two opportunist tries and South Africa's Bulls pack dominated in a 32-7 win over the Queensland Reds to keep alive their slim Super 12 playoff hopes.

The Bulls followed last week's upset of four-time champion Canterbury with another vigorous effort to lead 27-0 by halftime.

They improved to seventh place with 16 points - 11 behind leader New South Wales - but with four of their last five games also at Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls' home has become a feared place to tread.

The Bulls front row of Kees Lensing, Gary Botha and Richard Bands overcame a shaky start in the setpieces to consistently shove the Reds off the ball in the scrums, and allow the marauding loose forwards to set up attacks by the backs.

"It was clinical, strong forward-orientated rugby," said Reds captain John Roe.

In a classic first half for the Bulls, wingers Bryan Habana and Ndungane scored tries in the first quarter before a series of destructive scrums led to a penalty try awarded by New Zealand referee Lyndon Bray in the 33rd minute.

With young flyhalf Morne Steyn converting all three tries, and kicking two penalties, the Bulls sealed the result by halftime.

"We were handed a rugby lesson in the first half," acknowledged Roe, "and we just had to attack in the second half."

The Reds fought to recover from being humbled, and forced the Bulls to defend for most of the period.

A 54th-minute converted try by winger Drew Mitchell in the right-hand corner was confirmed by the video referee, and two more tries were disallowed to flyhalf Julian Huxley and Brett Sheehan at the end of both halves.

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