Bulls beat Lions 48-27 to reach quarter-finals

Bulls 48-27 Lions, Loftus Versfeld
Scorecard

Bulls came up with a seven-try performance as they outplayed Lions with a 48-27 win to reach the quarter-finals in the ongoing Super Rugby season.

In what was a riveting first quarter, Lions got their first points with a first minute try from Hacjivah Dayimani and Elton Jantjies kicked a conversion, a penalty and a drop goal apiece to take them to 13 points.

Lions though had the upper hand as they scored four tries - Hanro Liebenberg (3' and 10'), Lizo Gqoboka (16') and Burger Odendaal (20') while Pollard slotted all four conversions to make it 28-13.

Pollard then kicked his maiden penalty goal in the 24th minute to make it 31-13 before Jantjies with back to back three pointers ensured the teams went into the break with a 31-19 scoreline.

In the battle between the two South African teams Jantjies went on to record his fourth penalty goal to narrow down the gap to nine points and their momentum took a shot in the arm when Bulls lost RG Snyman to sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Malcolm Marx in the 48th minute.

Lions capitalised on the numerical advantage with a touchdown from Cyle Brink in the 56th minute reducing the arrears to four points but Bulls with a strong performance in the final quarter with tries from Cornal Hendricks (60'), Pollard (65') and Manie Libbok (71') ensured they completed a 48-27 win.