Cape Town - Bulls coach Frans Ludeke is a happy man after they returned from their clash against the Kings with no significant injuries.

The Bulls beat the Kings 16-12 in Port Elizabeth.

"Obviously the result was important as we dropped the game last year. The Kings scored close to the end of the match and we did very well to show composure and close the game down.”

"The absence of injuries was another plus," Ludeke told the Bulls' website.

“It is early in the season and no one wants injuries so we are pleased that everyone came through the game well. This was important for the coaching staff to assess the reserve strength and in that regard we are pleased as a number of players did very well.”

The Bulls conceded 16 penalties, mostly at the breakdown, but Ludeke was nevertheless pleased.

“One wants to have those mistakes indentified as early as possible and we are pleased that it happened. There was nothing new with regards to the implementation of the laws; it was just us making technical errors. It is easy to solve those.”

The Bulls are now preparing for a clash against the Cheetahs in Polokwane on Saturday.