David Kriel scored a hat-trick of tries, while Johan Goosen kicked 12 points as the Vodacom Bulls thrashed Zebre in the Vodacom URC in Parma on Saturday.
Leading 21-15 at half time, the Bulls scored five tries in the second 40 minutes in a 54-29 victory at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, following a round 2 defeat to Ulster in Belfast last week.
Three first-half tries from hooker Akker van der Merwe and left winger Sergeal Petersen – who was making his Bulls debut – and three conversions from Goosen powered the visitors in front, while 10 points from Geronimo Prisciantelli and an Iacopo Bianchi touchdown kept the hosts within touching distance at the break.
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💥 That’s one way to mark your @BlueBullsRugby debut
Sergeal Petersen 👏#BKTURC #URC | #ZEBvBUL pic.twitter.com/JqUEErXWnU
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 4, 2023
Fullback Devon Williams and inside centre Kriel crossed the whitewash soon after the restart, with Goosen on target from the kicking tee, but right winger Scott Gregory and No 15 Lorenzo Pani dotted down for Zebre before the match entered the final 10 minutes.
However, Williams bagged his second try of the game sandwiched by scores from Kriel as Jake White’s men completed an emphatic win to reignite their overseas tour.
The Bulls will now refocus for a trip to Wales on Friday to face Cardiff at Arms Park.
Photo: Luca Sighinolfi/Inpho/Shutterstock
