The win allowed the Pretoria outfit to continue their dominance this season, with the team stretching their lead at the top of the standings with an impressive seventh victory in eight matches.
The Vodacom Bulls got off to a quick start, building up an encouraging 13-3 lead in the first 20 minutes, but the Free Staters’ forced their way back into the match to level the scores at 13-13 by halftime.
The home side, however, found their rhythm in the second half, scoring 27 unanswered points, which saw them outscore the men from Bloemfontein four tries to one.
Arno Botha on the charge for the Vodacom Bulls
Steyn – who slotted four penalty goals and two conversions for his 16 points – scored the first points of the match as he landed his first three-pointer in the third minute.
His halfback partner Embrose Papier added to this minutes later as he rounded off a great try after good vision by Duane Vermeulen (No 8) and a strong dash out wide by Marco Jansen van Vuren (wing), with Steyn’s conversion handing them a 10-0 lead.
The Toyota Cheetahs hit back with a penalty goal by Frans Steyn (centre) thanks to a powerful scrum, but this was cancelled out by his Vodacom Bulls namesake minutes later.
Frans Steyn slotted his second penalty goal soon after, and the visitors’ finally broke through for their first try in the dying minutes of the half as Reinhardt Fortuin (flyhalf) – who was drafted into the starting team as a late replacement for Tian Schoeman – dotted down.
Fortuin received the ball from a solid scrum and he straightened up to cruise though the defence, with the conversion levelling the scores at 13-13.
Kurt-Lee Arendse looking for a gap with the Toyota Cheetahs' defence closing in
The Toyota Cheetahs had an opportunity to take the lead for the first time on the stroke of halftime, but their attempt at goal went wayward.
The Vodacom Bulls again got a head start in the second half with Van Staden scoring their second try in the 51st minute from a rolling maul, and they built on this with two penalty goals by the in-form Steyn to extend their lead to 13 points.
The hosts continued to stamp their authority on attack with Chris Smith (replacement flyhalf) dashing through to the tryline in the 67th minute, and he added the conversion to push the score out of reach for the visitors.
The hosts fought until the end and that paid off with Van Staden earning his brace from a pick-and-go with three minutes to play after some impressive work by the forwards, and Smith added the two points to wrap up the convincing 40-13 victory.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls 40 (13) – Tries: Embrose Papier, Marco van Staden (2), Chris Smith. Conversions: Morne Steyn (2), Chris Smith (2). Penalty Goals: Morne Steyn (4).
Toyota Cheetahs 13 (13) – Try: Reinhardt Fortuin. Conversion: Frans Steyn. Penalty goals: Frans Steyn (2).
