Potchefstroom - The Blue Bulls ran in three tries to one to beat the Leopards 28-15 (half-time 20-8) in their Vodacom Cup match at a cool and windy Profert Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
For the Bulls it was their second consecutive victory after beating the Lions in an impressive display last weekend. The Leopards will be disappointed after suffering a second defeat in three starts this campaign.
The conditions were not ideal for free, running rugby but the Bulls opened scoring as early as the fourth minute when flyhalf Tony Jantjies slotted a penalty.
The Leopards levelled matters seven minutes later as former Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius kicked a penalty of his own.
The visitors regained the lead when eighthman Jono Ross forced his way over for a try in the 14th minute. Jantjies had no trouble with the conversion and then put over a penalty as the Bulls surged into a 13-3 advantage after 17 minutes.
The Leopards narrowed the gap through centre Joubert Engelbrecht who showed a clean pair of heels to score after 27 minutes.
However, the Bulls went into the break in the ascendancy when right wing Sampie Mastriet rounded off a good move to score a try which was converted by Jantjies.
It took the Bulls 23 second-half minutes to increase their advantage and it was again Jantjies who was on target with a penalty.
Bulls centre Jan Serfontein then made it 28-8 in the 70th minute when he dotted down after some fine work by his forwards.
The home side had the final say when replacement wing Johann Laker scored a consolation try on the stroke of fulltime which was converted by Pretorius.
Scorers:
Leopards:
Tries: Joubert Engelbrecht, Johann Laker
Conversions: Andre Pretorius
Penalties: Pretorius
Blue Bulls:
Tries: Jono Ross, Sampie Mastriet, Jan Serfontein
Conversions: Tony Jantjies (2)
Penalties: Jantjies (3)
For the Bulls it was their second consecutive victory after beating the Lions in an impressive display last weekend. The Leopards will be disappointed after suffering a second defeat in three starts this campaign.
The conditions were not ideal for free, running rugby but the Bulls opened scoring as early as the fourth minute when flyhalf Tony Jantjies slotted a penalty.
The Leopards levelled matters seven minutes later as former Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius kicked a penalty of his own.
The visitors regained the lead when eighthman Jono Ross forced his way over for a try in the 14th minute. Jantjies had no trouble with the conversion and then put over a penalty as the Bulls surged into a 13-3 advantage after 17 minutes.
The Leopards narrowed the gap through centre Joubert Engelbrecht who showed a clean pair of heels to score after 27 minutes.
However, the Bulls went into the break in the ascendancy when right wing Sampie Mastriet rounded off a good move to score a try which was converted by Jantjies.
It took the Bulls 23 second-half minutes to increase their advantage and it was again Jantjies who was on target with a penalty.
Bulls centre Jan Serfontein then made it 28-8 in the 70th minute when he dotted down after some fine work by his forwards.
The home side had the final say when replacement wing Johann Laker scored a consolation try on the stroke of fulltime which was converted by Pretorius.
Scorers:
Leopards:
Tries: Joubert Engelbrecht, Johann Laker
Conversions: Andre Pretorius
Penalties: Pretorius
Blue Bulls:
Tries: Jono Ross, Sampie Mastriet, Jan Serfontein
Conversions: Tony Jantjies (2)
Penalties: Jantjies (3)