The Vodacom Bulls entered their clash against the last-placed Dragons RFC as the favourites. They dominated the first half to lead 26-00; however, despite two early tries by the Dragons in the second half, the Bulls scored an additional five tries to win 50-15.
It took the Bulls just four minutes to score their first try when brilliant interplay and handling put David Kriel away to score in the corner. Three minutes later, the Bulls switched from silky backline play to a thundering run by Cobus Wiese to score a try a extending the Bulls' lead to 12-00 after eight minutes of play.
The following fifteen minutes were a bit of a bore until Willie le Roux spread some magic and set Sebastian de Klerk away to score in the corner. Johannes converted his second to extend the Bulls' lead to 19-00.
Akker van der Merwe added the Bulls' bonus-point try off the back of a lineout-maul to go into the second half leading 24-00.
The Dragons started the second half and scored tries by Huw Anderson and Rhodri Williams to cut the Bulls' lead to 24-10 after ten minutes of play in the second half.
Thereafter, it was a blue wave that engulfed the Dragons. Tries by Akker van der Merwe, Sergeal Petersen (2), Marcel Coetzee and Devon Williams gave the Bulls a 55-10 lead and fifteen minutes to play.
The Dragons had the final say when Lewis Morgan scored off the back of a maul to cut the Bulls' lead to 57-15.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: David Kriel, Cobus Wiese, Sebastian de Klerk, Akker van der Merwe (2), Sergeal Petersen (2), Marcell Coetzee, Devon Williams. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (6).
Dragons RFC: Tries: Huw Anderson, Rhodri Williams, Lewis Morgan.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Izak Burger, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (c), 6 Nama Xaba, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Devon Williams.
Dragons RFC: 15 Angus O’Brien (cc), 14 Harry Rees-Weldon, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Huw Anderson, 10 Lloyd Evans, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Ben Carter (cc), 4 Joe Davies, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths. Replacements: 16 Lewis Morgan, 17 Jamie Hughes, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Barny Langton-Cryer, 20 Evan Minto, 21 Che Hope, 22 Ewan Rosser, 23 Ashton Hewitt.