URC: Bulls produce second-half blitz to secure bonus-point win over Lions

The visitors were only leading 5-3 after 50 minutes, but three tries during a dominant final half-hour ensured they came away with a full haul of points and moved top of the URC log - albeit only briefly, with second-placed Leinster and third-placed Benetton set to square off later.

The first half was a low-scoring affair. The Sharks took the lead via a Sanele Nohamba penalty moments after the kick-off and held that advantage until the 19th minute when a try from Canan Moodie finally got the Bulls on the board.

Moodie's five-pointer came after flanker Cameron Hanekom broke from the scrum and offloaded to Embrose Papier, who beat several defenders before offloading to the Bok star for a beautiful score.

That was how it ended at half-time, with the Bulls leading by two points via Moodie's unconverted try, but with 52 minutes gone, the visitors finally broke the hosts' resolve, Akker van der Merwe powering over the line following a five-metre line-out.

Johan Goosen converted the try and then stretched the Bulls' lead following a penalty, and with 13 minutes to play the men in blue delivered another hammer blow when Marcel Coetzee powered his way over the line for their third try.

The Lions showed signs of life when fullback Quan Horn touched down to reduce the deficit, but the Bulls had the final say via centre Dawid Kriel when he crossed over to bag the bonus point and cap a successful day at the office for Jake White's men.

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