The Vodacom Bulls travelled to Parma looking for their second win of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship. The Vodacom Bulls initially had to work extremely hard to beat Zebre Parm 50-29 and earn a bonus point.
A three-try blitzkrieg in 10 minutes of play by the Bulls opened up a 21-05 lead with 13 minutes of play. However, Zebre fought back and trailed 21-15 at the halftime break. The Bulls scored another 5 tries in the second half to beat Zebre 54-29, however, it must be said that Zebre never gave up and impressed with the speed of their attack and great handling.
Zebre made it a habit to score early points in the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship season and did exactly that when flanker Iacopo Bianchi bulldozed his way over the Bulls' try from the front of a 5m lineout after 10 minutes of play.
Seven minutes later Bulls' hooker Akker van der Merwe scored from the back of a 5m lineout-maul to give the Bulls a 07-05 lead.
Two minutes later Sergeal Petersen scored his first try for the Vodacom Bulls following some great interplay and handling by the visitors to extend the Bulls' lead to 14-05.
The Bulls continued to bully Zebre Parma in the scrums from which they earned several penalties. Hooker Akker van der Merwe scored his second try from the back of a 5m lineout-maul to extend their lead to 21-05 and 13 minutes left to play in the first half.
Two minutes later, a brilliant grubber by fullback Lorenzo Pani ended with captain Prisciantelli scoring Zebre's second try to reduce the Bulls' lead to 21-12.
Zebre clawed their way back into the match and a converted penalty by Geronimo Prisciantell reduced the Bulls' lead to 21-15. Zebre scored an unanswered 10 points during the last ten minutes of the first half.
Devon Williams scored the Bulls' bonus point try after just 3 minutes of play in the second half following great work by David Kriel at centre, cutting through the defence of Parma with ease.
David Kriel scored the Bulls' 5th try with 30 minutes left to play. Great interplay and handling by the Bulls was the reason for this try to extend their lead to 35-15.
Not to be outdone Zebre started to attack from the kickoff and with brilliant handling kept the pressure on the Bulls' defence until Scott Gregory walked over the tryline for Zebre's 3rd try with 22 minutes left to play in the match.
10 minutes later Zebre's fullback Lorenzo Pani scored their bonus point try to reduce the Bulls' lead to 35-27. Zebre's speed on the attack and handling is proving extremely difficult for the Bulls to defend.
However, the Bulls attacked from the kick-off and David Kriel strolled in for his second try to extend the Bulls' lead to 40-29, with 9 minutes left to play in the match.
The Bulls added a 7th try with great handling by their backs when Devon Williams scored in the corner to extend their lead to 47-29. David Kriel added another try to finish things off and secured the Bulls a 54-29 win.
Scorers:
Zebre Parma: Tries: Iacopo Bianchi, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Scott Gregory, Lorenzo Pani. Conversions: Geronimo Prisciantelli (3). Penalty: Geronimo Prisciantelli.
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Akker van der Merwe (2), Sergeal Petersen, Devon Williams (2), David Kriel (3). Conversions: Johan Goosen (7).