Bulls crush Highlanders

Francois Hougaard and Pierre Spies scored two tries apiece as the Bulls cemented their position at the top of the Super 14 ladder with a 50-35 victory over the Highlanders.

However, the defending champions needed to withstand a second-half fightback from the New Zealanders after dominating the opening period, capturing the bonus point after only 24 minutes.

The game was just six minutes old before Bulls opened the scoring, Morne Steyn setting up Danie Rossouw with a clever short pass before Hougaard, Fourie du Preez and Zane Kirchner put Gary Botha over the line.

Steyn added the extras and then set up the next with a burst through the middle that allowed Spies to pick up and send Hougaard over.

And it was soon 21-0 thanks to a fine individual effort from wiinger Gerhard van den Heever, who danced his way through the ragged defence after picking up the ball in his own 22.

Israel Dagg got the Highlanders off the mark with a solo effort that was converted by Matthew Berquist, but the hosts wrapped up the bonus shortly afterwards as Kirchner's up-and-under set up Wynand Olivier to touch down for the fourth time in as many games.

Steyn missed for the first time, but Spies crossed before the break after good work from Stephen Dippenaar, before Dagg scored again for the visitors when taking Sean Romans' pass on the run.

A Steyn penalty gave Bulls a 36-14 lead at half-time and the South African champions clearly felt they had done enough judging by their lacklustre start to the second period.

Highlanders scored through Tim Boys - the try converted by Berquist - but should possibly have done more with the large amount of possession they had.

The gap was 15 at that stage, but the hosts showed their ruthlessness when a line-out ball worked excellently for Hougaard's diagonal run.

That seemed to seal the win and, despite further tries from Robbie Robinson and Dagg that gave the tourists a consolation point, Spies' late second made sure there was no chance of an upset.