The Vodacom Bulls secured an eight tries to two (54-19) win over Zebre Parma at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, keeping them in the race for a top-four finish in the United Rugby Championship, securing a home quarter-final.
The Bulls' ill discipline kept Zebre in the game and the teams changed sides with the Bulls leading 26-12 going into the second half.
The Bulls started the first half like a house on fire when they attacked from within their half. Following a brilliant interplay by the Bulls, Willie le Roux scored under the poles. Le Roux converted to extend the Bulls’ lead to 07-00 after four minutes of play in the first half.
Ten minutes later, Harold Vorster put Sergeal Pietersen in a gap, who offloaded to Canan Moodie to score the Bulls' second try. Willie le Roux converted, extending the Bulls' lead to 14-00.
After twenty minutes of play, winger Jacopo Trulla intercepted a loose pass to score Zenre’s first points of the match. Martin Roger Farias converted to cut the Bulls’ lead to 14-07.
The Bulls replied immediately, and brilliant interplay put Cheswill Jooste away to score in the corner to extend the Bylls’ lead to 19-07.
Sergeal Peterson scored the Bulls' fourth and bonus-point try with ten minutes still to play. Willie le Roux added the extras to extend the Bulls' lead to 26-07.
With time up on the clock, Zebre’s Giampietro Ribaldi scored off the back of a lineout-maul to cut the Bulls' lead to 26-12, which was also the halftime score.
The ill-discipline of the Bulls helped Zebre to set up camp in the Bulls’ 22m; however, the Bulls attacked from a turnover ball, and despite the scrappy play, Ruan Vermaak scored the Bulls’ fifth try. Le Roux extended the Bulls’ lead to 33-12 after 10 minutes of play in the second half.
Ten minutes later, Zebre attacked down the touchline, and eventually Thomas Dominguez scored in the corner following great individual efforts by several players. Martin Roger Farias converted, cutting the Bulls' lead to 33-19.
Two minutes later, Cameron Hanekom scored the Bulls' sixth try, which Willie le Roux converted, extending the Bulls' lead to 40-19.
During the final ten minutes, Harold Vorster and Jeandre Rudolph scored tries for the Vodacom Bulls, securing the Bulls a 54-19 bonus-point win.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Cheswill Jooste, Sergeal Peterson, Ruan Vermaak, Cameron Hanekom, Harold Vorster, Jeandre Rudolph. Conversions: Willie le Roux (7).
Zebre Parma: Jacopo Trulla, Giampietro Ribaldi, Thomas Dominguez. Conversion: Martin Roger Farias (2).
Teams
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Willie le Roux, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Jeandre Rudolph, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Marco van Staden, 1 Jan Hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Stedman Gans
Zebre Parma: 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Martin Roger Farias, 9 Thomas Dominguez, 8 Giovanni Licata (c), 7 Davide Odiase, 6 Alessandro Ortombina, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Franco Carrera, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 1 Paolo Buonfiglio. Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Luca Franceschetto, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Bautista Stavile, 21 Samuele Locatelli, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Migael Prinsloo.