Potgieter’s 21 points blow away Blues

Bonus-point win lifts Pretoria side’s confidence

THE way they started the season, few would have imagined the Bulls would celebrate two consecutive victories at the end of the fourth round of Super Rugby matches.

Last night, the Pretoria side kept their undefeated record in two home games at Loftus Versfeld when they beat the Blues.

While many expected the New Zealand outfit to be the side to play more expansive and running rugby, the Bulls surprised when they attacked and played more attractive rugby, with the visitors absorbing the pressure.

Bulls captain Flip van der Merwe, prop Dean Greyling, flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter, centre Jan Serfontein and Akona Ndungane, playing his 100th Super Rugby game, all had outstanding performances.

Despite a number of oppor- tunities, Ndungane, 31, could not cap his 100 milestone with a try, and the occasion came to an end for him when he limped off halfway through the second half.

Flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter picked up where he left off last week, making his second appearance for the Bulls since his return from a stint in France.

Potgieter opened the home side’s scoring in grand style with an individual try in the seventh minute, when he ran through the Blues defence to dot down near the posts.

The visitors replied in the 10th minute through the boot of flyhalf Simon Hickey. The Blues’ No 10 added a further three penalties in the first half to take their half time tally to 12.

Potgieter had another topdrawer performance. He added a drop goal, a penalty and two conversions in the first half.

Flanker Jono Ross scored his second try of the season, and the second of the night, before a spectacular try by centre Jan Serfontein to bring the first half to an end with the Bulls leading 25-12.

Potgieter added a three-pointer via a penalty early in the second half but, this time, it was the Blues who showed their intentions of fighting back as they narrowed the deficit.

Substitute Peter Ahki scored the visitors’ only five-pointer in the 56th minute, when he managed to find himself chasing down a grubber from Hickey and beat the Bulls defence to dot down.

Marcel van der Merwe finished off proceedings and handed the Bulls a deserved bonuspoint try just before the final whistle.

The Bulls will go into their bye week with confidence high.