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Brisbane - Reds halves Will Genia and Quade Cooper gave an attacking masterclass as the Reds secured a 39-30 win over the Bulls in a pulsating Super 15 rugby clash in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Reds scored six tries to three to notch up their sixth win in a row, the first time they have won that many on the trot since 1996.
The bonus point victory moved the Reds back to the top of the Super 15 ladder, ahead of the Crusaders on the number of wins.
Genia and Cooper were involved in almost everything Queensland tried as the young Reds outfit played an expansive attacking game to try and move the big Bulls forward pack around the field.
Despite conceding six tries, the Bulls defended magnificently throughout and were kept in the game thanks to the boot of flyhalf Morne Steyn.
Queensland captain James Horwill said he knew it would be a tough match against the heavyweights of South African rugby.
"That was the most pleasing thing about tonight -- things didn't always go our way but the boys really dug deep," he said.
"To get a bonus point win is massive after coming back from Africa this week."
Although the Bulls drew first blood with an early Steyn penalty, the Reds set the tone for the rest of the encounter when Cooper scored the opening try after throwing a huge dummy pass and strolling over under the posts.
Both teams were throwing everything at each other in a bid to take control but with the defences standing firm, the next points came from kicks, a second Steyn penalty and a Cooper drop goal.
But with the first half coming to a close, Queensland lock Rob Simmons stole a Bulls line-out throw and the Reds swarmed forward in attack, flanker Radike Samo finishing a 65 metre movement with a try under the posts.
There was one last twist however when Bulls winger Bjorn Basson regathered from the ensuing kick-off and crossed untouched, Steyn adding the extras to send the Bulls into the break only four points down.
The Reds came out firing at the start of the second half and extended their lead when fullback Luke Morahan broke the line 30 metres out and outpaced the defence to score.
Steyn replied with a penalty to close the gap to 22-16, however Morahan scored his second and Queensland's fourth from a delightful backline movement following a scrum five metres out from the Bulls line.
The Reds appeared to make the game safe when winger Digby Ioane chased a kick ahead and ran 60 metres to score, only for the Bulls to come back again, replacement flanker Danie Roussow crashing over under the posts to close the gap to 11 points.
However, Horwill finally put the match beyond the Bulls' reach with a 76th minute try, and although Basson grabbed his second in the closing seconds, it came too late.
Teams:
Reds:
15 Luke Morahan, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Radike Samo, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons,3 James Slipper, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley
Substitutes: 16 James Hanson, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Leroy Houston, 21 Ben Lucas, 22 Will Chambers
Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Deon Stegmann, 20 Fourie du Preez, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Akona Ndungane
