Bulls break losing streak against the Stormers to stay in URC title contention

It was the home side's first win over their South African rivals in the tournament and ended a streak of seven successive losses in the North-South derby.

Hooker Johan Grobbelaar scored two tries, and there were also touchdowns for wing Canan Moodie and scrum-half Embrose Papier as the Bulls recorded an eighth league win from 11 starts this season in bonus-point fashion.

Fly-half Johan Goosen complemented those scores by kicking 20 points from four penalties and four conversions in Pretoria, with the Bulls repeatedly punishing Stormers' poor discipline.

Despite an hour's delay to the kick-off due to a threat of lightning, the Bulls came out firing and dominated the opening 30 minutes after a massive maul saw Grobbelaar score the opening try in the second minute.

The from the Cape were forced to give away soft penalties as Bulls certainly dominated the opening collisions determined to prove a point.

Wing Ben Loader, flanker Evan Roos and replacement hooker Andre-Hugo Venter crossed for the Stormers, while Manie Libbok booted a penalty and two conversions, but they were unable to threaten a Bulls team that always had control up-front.

Both teams will have a two-week break to recover before returning to action against northern hemisphere teams.

The Bulls will embark on a mini-tour, starting with a trip to Wales to face Dragons, while the Stormers will host Edinburgh in Cape Town on 23 March.

READ MORE: Lions keep URC play-off hopes alive with big win over misfiring Sharks