KEY POINTS:
When things aren't going your way even the good work goes unrewarded, as the Chiefs are discovering.
Despite turning in their best effort of the campaign, the Chiefs suffered their fourth straight loss courtesy of an after-the-hooter scamper to the lefthand corner by Springbok wing Bryan Habana.
The Chiefs sank to their haunches and clutched their heads as if wondering who they'd offended to cop another loss.
The difference was that, in earlier weeks, they were architects of their own misfortune. This time they defended wholeheartedly, stuck to the job, scored three fine tries and, even in the Loftus Versfeld oven, were still going strong at the end.
On top of ending up with another solitary bonus point, the Chiefs are also likely to be without centre Richard Kahui for next weekend's match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Kahui, who made his first Super rugby start after weeks sidelined by a bruised shoulder, was gone early in the second half with more shoulder problems.
Coach Ian Foster was pessimistic about Kahui's immediate prospects, but happy with the efforts of his other two headline acts returning from injury layoffs, lock Keith Robinson in particular, and No 8 Sione Lauaki.
Robinson, considering he's just over a lengthy layoff for a calf strain, was herculean in a pack in which flankers Steven Bates, in his 50th match for the Chiefs, and Marty Holah worked themselves to a standstill. Lauaki was clearly rusty, and gave up one penalty after a sloppy interchange with Stephen Donald, but will be better for the run.
"We're bitterly disappointed," Foster said. "We felt we played some really good rugby. This time we took most of our chances and really hung in there."
The Chiefs were much the better for the first quarter. Right wing Lelia Masaga scored his first try, a smart setpiece move involving halfback Brendon Leonard and fullback Dwayne Sweeney, who ran a sharp angle to give the lightning-quick Masaga room to outflank Habana.
The Bulls will never be accused of playing scientific rugby. Theirs is a bruising, Route One approach based around muscular forwards. But it is effective.
Both Springbok lock Bakkies Botha, in his first game since last year's semifinal against the Crusaders in May, and lock Gurthro Steenkamp barrelled across on the back of grinding lead-up work close to the line.
The Bulls' other try, the decider, came when Habana had just enough room to squeeze across despite Masaga's despairing effort.
When the Bulls had eased out to a 19-10 advantage at the break, the signs weren't good for the Chiefs, but they regrouped impressively. The lineout functioned better - not flawless, but a vast improvement - and the scrum was again combative and solid.
When Sweeney scored after one of several excellent runs by left wing Roy Kinikinilau and a well-weighted Donald grubber kick, it was game on.
The momentum, and a five-point lead, was with the visitors after Masaga scored his second, 21 minutes from the end, bursting clear on halfway and producing an outrageous step past the final defender.
Masaga crucially pulled down Habana superbly from behind as the Bulls man fled towards the line, but Sweeney was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.
Replacement kicker Derrick Hougaard slotted the resulting penalty, and another, to regain the lead while the Chiefs were a man down.
Donald got the lead back with a beauty from 43m four minutes from the end, before Habana came up with the killer blow.
Halfback Fourie du Preez and rugged Danie Rossouw excelled for the Bulls, while late replacements Hougaard and Jaco van der Westhuyzen made important contributions.
In many respects it was a good quality, rugged contest. From the Chiefs' perspective, just a shame about the result.
"If anyone's got a special potion for a one-point win, we'll take it," Bates said.
