Boland (7) 10
Blue Bulls (19) 26
It was just another day at the office for the Bulls in Wellington on Saturday where they easily accomplished their objective of scoring four tries and banking the bonus point to stay on the front row of the Currie Cup grid.
The Bulls barely broke into a sweat, the notable exception being captain Wikus van Heerden, who led the cavalry from the front and was a colossus in the tight-loose and at the breakdown.
Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who returned from injury to play for 40 minutes against the Cheetahs last weekend, started his first game since the Super 14 and was sharp, if not spectacular, jumping back into combat. The halfback was given 60 minutes before being swopped for Francois Hougaard.
The Bulls were never threatened during this game, but Boland were eager to showcase their own skills before their biggest gate of the season, albeit a predominantly blue crowd reflecting the success of the Bulls' inroads into Western Province's Winelands support base in recent years.
For their endeavours the home side were rewarded with a try by wing Renfred Dazel, putting the finishing touch to a surging move through the centre of a slumbering Bulls defence.
Also returning to rugby from injury for the first time since the Super 14 was Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner, who came on in the second half for Tiger Mangweni.
Kirchner quickly showed he was still as fast on the draw as ever, catapulting Akona Ndungane into space with slick hands for the Bulls' fourth try, the bonus point jackpot, five minutes into the second half.
From there on the game was played in fits and starts, the Bulls going through the motions as Boland strived to string together the odd few phases, but simply lacking the firepower to ever seriously worry their illustrious visitors.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke is likely to have mixed feelings over his team's performance. On the one hand the Bulls never came close to the humiliation WP suffered against the Valke on Friday night. And as far as the log table is concerned, it was mission accomplished.
But if the Bulls had played with the same intensity they showed against the Sharks and the Cheetahs, they would have put three times as many points on the board - which is always useful in the final charge for the playoffs, deciding home semi-finals and the showpiece itself.
Scorers
Boland. Try: Renfred Dazel. Conversion: Justin Peach. Penalty: Peach
Blue Bulls. Tries: Marius Delport, Wynand Olivier, Morne Steyn, Akona Ndungane. Conversions: Steyn (3)