Bulls players congratulate each other after a play The hosts competed strongly throughout, but the Bulls always had the additional power and that touch of class to ensure a bonus-point victory that leaves them four points behind leaders Leinster. Picture: INPHO, Andy Watts
THE BULLS saw off rock-bottom Dragons 31-10 at Rodney Parade to move into second place on the United Rugby Championship table on Saturday.
The hosts competed strongly throughout, but the Bulls always had the additional power and that touch of class to ensure a bonus-point victory that leaves them four points behind leaders Leinster.
Kurt-Lee Arendse, Mpilo Gumede, Embrose Papier and Johan Grobbelaar scored the South African side’s tries with Chris Smith converting all four and adding a penalty.
FULL TIME 🏆⚡️#BackTheBulls@Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/nJh7D82lV6
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) March 23, 2024
The Dragons responded with a Corey Baldwin try that was converted by Will Reed, and a Cai Evans penalty, but it was not enough to prevent a 10th defeat in 12 league outings this season.
Dragons began promisingly with well-judged kicks from Evans and Steff Hughes keeping Bulls penned in their own 22 in the opening 10 minutes.
However, the hosts did not look likely to capitalise on their attacking platform and it was the South Africans who grabbed the first points when Smith slotted over a 16th-minute penalty.
🐂 𝘽𝙐𝙇𝙇𝙎 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 - 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙁𝙁 𝙃𝙐𝙂𝙃𝙀𝙎 🐉
— Dragons RFC (@dragonsrugby) March 23, 2024
Hear from captain Steff Hughes following tonight's frustrating defeat to @BlueBullsRugby at Rodney Parade! ⤵️#WeAreGwentRugby #DRAvBUL pic.twitter.com/GNws64a12O
Dragons were under pressure in the set-scrums but were still able to maintain possession and were rewarded with a penalty from Evans to leave the scores level at the end of a competitive first quarter.
The home side’s defence was tested when powerful flanker Marco van Staden burst through tackles from Rhodri Williams and Evans to take him deep into opposition territory, but a penalty allowed Dragons to relieve the pressure.
The Welsh region then suffered a few hammer blows in quick succession. First they lost hooker Brodie Coghlan to injury before Reed was sin-binned for kicking the ball away in an off-side position, with Bulls able to benefit when a long pass from Willie Le Roux sent Arendse over.
Reed was able to return with no further damage to the scoreboard but his side still trailed 10-3 at the interval.
After the restart, the Bulls brought the game to life with a stunning score.
A neat off-load from Canan Moodie created space for Arendse down the right flank. The ball was recycled for Le Roux to place a cross-field kick into the hands of Devon Williams who provided Gumede with the scoring pass.
Dogged Dragons kept their line intact for a long period, but late tries from Papier and Grobbelaar gave Bulls their bonus point with Baldwin picking up a consolation score for the hosts.
Supplied
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