With their bonus-point win, the Vodacom Bulls made it three from three so far for the South African representatives in the weekend’s action.
On Friday evening, the Cell C Sharks defeated the battling Ospreys 25-10 in Durban, while defending champions, the DHL Stormers, managed to outlast the Dragons 34-26 in their thrilling clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Jake White’s Vodacom Bulls started the game looking for their fourth win on the bounce since their round-five defeat to Munster in Limerick, and Cardiff was no match for the team in the light blue jerseys playing at Fortress Loftus.
The hosts went into the halftime break with a 17-9 lead having scored two tries, one each through Springbok speedsters Canan Moodie (left wing) and Kurt-Lee Arendse (fullback), both converted by Johan Goosen (flyhalf), while the pivot also hit the mark with a penalty goal.
After the break they continued with their dominance which resulted in four more tries for a total of six for the evening, while they managed to keep the visitors scoreless in the second half with some outstanding defence. Moodie scored a brace of tries and bagged the outstanding player of the game accolade for a bright return to action after eight weeks.
The home side’s defence was solid in the opening stanza, although they conceded three kickable penalties which were slotted by visiting flyhalf Jarrod Evans.
Goosen gave the home side a perfect restart when he displayed deft footwork to step his way through a couple of defenders. When he eased the conversion kick through the uprights, the Vodacom Bulls increased their advantage to 24-9.
The bonus-point try came on the hour mark courtesy of Vodacom Bulls skipper Ruan Nortje (lock), who took a short pass around the corner to force his way over next to the upright. When Goosen added the extras the home side were looking very comfortable with their 31-9 lead.
Moodie made it five tries for the rampaging Vodacom Bulls and his second of the night, when he outpaced the defence to dot down following a deft chip-kick by Arendse. Replacement pivot Chris Smit easily converted to take the score to 38-9 with just over 10 minutes of play left on the clock.
It was no surprise when the home side scored their sixth try through No 8 Elrigh Louw, who dotted down off the back of another powerful lineout maul.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls 45 (17) - Tries: Canan Moodie (2), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Johan Goosen, Ruan Nortje, Elrigh Louw. Conversions: Goosen (4), Chris Smit (2). Penalty goal: Goosen.
Cardiff 9 (9) - Penalty goals: Jarrod Evans (3).
