The Loftus Versfeld faithful expected much of the same as last week, when the Bulls scored at will at Emirates Airline Park, but the Jozi side came to Loftus Versfeld far more willing for a fight, and scrap they did, conceding three tries in the match - two of those in the first half, with the Vodacom Bulls leading 14-6 at the break.

The home side will lament the missed bonus point and spilled chances, especially in the first half where their backs fluffed a number of opportunities.

The opening points belonged to the Emirates Lions, with the return of Tiaan Swanepoel a clear boost to their effort. In his first start in months, Swanepoel looked sharp and did not disappoint with his efforts.

He slotted his first penalty goal of the match after three minutes when Madosh Tambwe (wing) tried to run a Lions kick into his 25m area back at the visitors, but was caught in possession and held onto the ball.

That Swanepoel effort was from straight in front, but his second three minutes later was a much more challenging one.

The Vodacom Bulls pulled down a Lions lineout drive just inside their half and this time the flyhalf had 55 meters to cover his kick and nailed it to put his side 6-0 up.

The next quarter turned out to be a real local derby tussle with errors and determined tackling being the main ingredients of the clash, but there was always a feeling that a try was coming, especially as the Pretoria pack started to look more dangerous.

That happened 25 minutes in with Marcell Coetzee (flank) driven over the line by his pack from a tap penalty, and when Morne Steyn converted the hosts took a one point lead, deserving of their territorial advantage.

The home side clearly saw this as the best way to get across the advantage line, switching their attack to their pack, as the Pretoria side could not find any cohesion at the back.

Scrum time at Loftus.

This worked well and it became a matter of time before the Bulls’ pack slow grind of their opponents would bring results.

That happened on the stroke of halftime when the home side managed another well-set lineout maul and hooker Johan Grobbelaar was rewarded with the try when a mass of Bulls bodies crashed over the tryline. Steyn converted to ease the Bulls into a 14-6 lead, with clear danger signs to the Johannesburgers’ forwards that more was to come in the second half.

Swanepoel had the first scoring opportunity in the second half though, but pulled his kick from 50 meters out to the right. The visitors clearly came to play, but just lacked the big plays to stop the momentum created by the Bulls pack.

The Vodacom Bulls’ third try came nine minutes after the second half restart as the ball was sent wide, with Kurt-Lee Arendse running onto a drift pass to round the Lions defence and score in the corner, allowing the fullback to make up for some earlier mishaps.

Steyn converted from wide out and suddenly the gap looked ominous for the visitors.

Credit to the Emirates Lions pack though as they refused to give up, and slowly but surely found their way back into the match. More importantly, when given the chance to pounce they did, and Ruben Schoeman (lock) was at the end of a hard-working maul try with ten minutes to play.

Swanepoel kicked a peach from a tight angle to convert and suddenly there was something to play for the visitors again, trailing 13-21.

Alas, in a match where both teams were penalised heavily for set piece offences, a dramatic end was not to be.

Scorers:

Vodacom Bulls 21 (14) - Tries: Marcell Coetzee, Johan Grobbelaar, Kurt-Lee Arendse. Conversions: Morne Steyn (3).

Emirates Lions 13 (6) - Try: Ruben Schoeman. Conversion: Tiaan Swanepoel. Penalty goals: Swanepoel (2).