The Bulls put their Super rugby title defence firmly back on track with a hard-fought 26-14 win over the Wellington Hurricanes in Napier on Saturday.A late try from winger Francois Hougaard and a 21-point kicking masterclass from flyhalf Morne Steyne proved the difference as the Bulls took a 15-3 halftime lead and defended stoutly after the break at McLean Stadium.
"I'm very happy about the win tonight," said Bulls skipper Victor Matfield. "We knew it wasn't going to be a nice open game, we had to grind it out and we did it well.
"They were really coming back and fighting to the end ... We enjoyed tonight and start from scratch on Monday again."
The win was the Bulls' fourth from six games in the southern hemisphere rugby competition while the struggling Hurricanes suffered their fourth loss.
Laser-sharp Steyn scored all of the Bulls' points in the first half, kicking a drop goal from 30 metres on a slight angle and repeating the feat from almost exactly the same position 10 minutes later to the derision of spectators.
The flyhalf's opposite number Daniel Kirkpatrick finally put his team on the board with a penalty kick four minutes before halftime.
The home side moved up a gear after the break and were rewarded after five minutes of sustained pressure when flanker Serge Lilo stormed across after receiving a quick ball out of a ruck on the try-line from scrumhalf Chris Eaton.
Kirkpatrick missed the conversion but kicked his second penalty goal in the 60th minute to put the Hurricanes within four points.
Steyn restored the Bulls' cushion to seven points with his fourth penalty goal and they defended grimly as the Hurricanes launched wave after wave of attacks.
Matfield was heroic on the try-line, burrowing under a pack to prevent winger Hosea Gear from touching down in the 69th minute, before Hougaard struck the decisive blow three minutes later.
Centre Wynand Olivier burst through two defenders before dishing off to the charging Hougaard, who crossed near the left corner to put the Bulls up 23-14 with eight minutes left.
The late try appeared to break the Hurricanes' spirits, while Steyn's fifth penalty goal minutes later ensured there would be no last-gasp push for victory.
"It was pretty gutting to come away from the points," said Hurricanes skipper Andrew Hore. "We really struggled to get in our own half for a while ... Composure's a big thing."
"I'm very happy about the win tonight," said Bulls skipper Victor Matfield. "We knew it wasn't going to be a nice open game, we had to grind it out and we did it well.
"They were really coming back and fighting to the end ... We enjoyed tonight and start from scratch on Monday again."
The win was the Bulls' fourth from six games in the southern hemisphere rugby competition while the struggling Hurricanes suffered their fourth loss.
Laser-sharp Steyn scored all of the Bulls' points in the first half, kicking a drop goal from 30 metres on a slight angle and repeating the feat from almost exactly the same position 10 minutes later to the derision of spectators.
The flyhalf's opposite number Daniel Kirkpatrick finally put his team on the board with a penalty kick four minutes before halftime.
The home side moved up a gear after the break and were rewarded after five minutes of sustained pressure when flanker Serge Lilo stormed across after receiving a quick ball out of a ruck on the try-line from scrumhalf Chris Eaton.
Kirkpatrick missed the conversion but kicked his second penalty goal in the 60th minute to put the Hurricanes within four points.
Steyn restored the Bulls' cushion to seven points with his fourth penalty goal and they defended grimly as the Hurricanes launched wave after wave of attacks.
Matfield was heroic on the try-line, burrowing under a pack to prevent winger Hosea Gear from touching down in the 69th minute, before Hougaard struck the decisive blow three minutes later.
Centre Wynand Olivier burst through two defenders before dishing off to the charging Hougaard, who crossed near the left corner to put the Bulls up 23-14 with eight minutes left.
The late try appeared to break the Hurricanes' spirits, while Steyn's fifth penalty goal minutes later ensured there would be no last-gasp push for victory.
"It was pretty gutting to come away from the points," said Hurricanes skipper Andrew Hore. "We really struggled to get in our own half for a while ... Composure's a big thing."
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