Bulls grind out lacklustre Super 12 win over Chiefs

CAPE TOWN - The Bulls survived a second-half fightback from the Chiefs to grind out a 29-26 victory in a Super 12 match in Pretoria.

The win kept alive the Bulls' playoff hopes, although they remain seventh in the standings, while putting a realistic end to the Chiefs' chances.

The Bulls scored two tries in the first half to take a 23-9 lead but in an error-strewn match dominated by tactical kicking and lineouts the home side lost their way after the interval.

The Chiefs scored two tries in that period although they only really had a chance of winning the match in the final two minutes when fullback Sosene Anesi's try closed the gap to three points.

They had chipped away at the Bulls' lead with a first try by left wing Sitiveni Sivivatu and a conversion and penalty by centre David Hill.

The Bulls' points in the second half were confined to two penalties from first five-eighth Morne Steyn.

They had produced their best work before the break with centre JP Nel cutting in from 15 metres and flanker Jacques Cronje crashing his way under the posts from a similar distance.

- REUTERS