The Vodacom Bulls scored four tries to clinch a crucial 34-10 victory over the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Following last week’s agonising defeat by the Stormers, there was always going to be a backlash from this Bulls side and, unfortunately for the Lions, they bore the brunt of it.

It wasn’t the most exciting game, but there was no shortage of action as the teams scored a combined five tries while there were also three disallowed tries.

The Bulls made a fast start as a strong carry by Elrigh Louw got them upfield where the Lions was forced to concede a penalty, which Morne Steyn converted into three points.

Fred Zeilinga levelled the scores with a penalty of his own, but that was as good as it got for them for some time.

Despite their scrum being under pressure, the Bulls would go on to score 17 unanswered points via two converted tries and a penalty for a 20-3 lead at the break.

Added to that, the Bulls had two disallowed tries while the Lions had one.

The Lions put up a much-better fight in the second half, conceding only seven points soon after the restart and seven right at the death, while creating several opportunities for themselves.

However, poor execution on attack let them down as most of their chances were spurned by unforced errors.

When the Bulls conceded a yellow card, Jaco Kriel pulled a try back for the hosts, reducing the deficit to 17 heading into the final quarter.

With the clock winding down, the Bulls went in search of an all-important fourth-try bonus point. They succeeded late on when Harold Vorster burst through the Lions defence to plant the ball on the tryline to wrap up the result.