The Vodacom Bulls remained on track for a top-four finish in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship after thumping Zebre Parma 63-24 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday thanks to nine tries to only three by the visitors.
The writing was on the wall for the Italians by halftime as the men in blue held a 28-10 lead at the break with a four-try bonus point already in the bag after Sergeal Petersen, Zak Burger, Stravino Jacobs and Jan-Hendrik Wessels crossed the chalk, while they limited the opposition to only one try and a drop goal.
With momentum and confidence on their side, the Vodacom Bulls scored another five tries in the second half compliments of Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Harold Vorster, Petersen and David Kriel despite JF van Heerden receiving a yellow card, while they limited the visitors to only two tries for the rewarding bonus point victory.
The player depth within the Vodacom Bulls ranks certainly shone through, although Zebre Parma, who were languishing in second-last place on the table, fought back valiantly in the second stanza.
It was a particularly rewarding day with the boot for Vodacom Bulls fly half Keagan Johannes, who slotted seven conversions, which allowed them to keep the scoreboard ticking and take their score to over 60 points.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls 63 (28) – Tries: Sergeal Petersen (2), Zak Burger, Stravino Jacobs, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Harold Vorster, David Kriel. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (7), Boeta Chamberlain (2).
Zebre Parma 24 (10) – Tries: Jacopo Trulla, Giovanni Montemauri, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo. Conversions: Giovanni Montemauri (2), Giacomo Da Re. Drop Goal: Alessandro Fusco.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Celimpilo Gumene, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Akker van der Merwe, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Embrose Papier, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.
Zebre Parma: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Alessandro Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Davide Ruggeri, 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 6 Guido Volpi, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Luca Rizzoli. Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Paulo Buonfiglio, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Francesco Ruffolo, 20 Bautista Stavile, 21 Ratko Jelic, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Filippo Drago.