The Vodacom Bulls claimed a bonus-point win in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 10 clash against Zebre Parma at the Stadio Sergio Linfranchi on Friday night.
The victory was an important one for the side from Pretoria, adding to their solitary overseas scalp from their previous trip to Europe last year.
After a lengthy period in the opening 40 minutes of a 0-0 stalemate, it was the home side that got the first points of the day when flyhalf, Antonio Rizzi scored the opening try of the match in the 23rd minute and also ensured that the conversion was kicked over.
The Vodacom Bulls slowly reclaimed control of the game after pivot, Chris Smith, slotted over a penalty in the 28th minute of the encounter. It did not take long thereafter for the visitors to register two back-to-back tries to ensure a comfortable 7-17 lead at the half-time break.
The Jake White-coached side upped the ante in the second half, scoring four impressive tries which went unanswered. Smith was on point with the boot on the night, converting all available kicks to secure a convincing 7-45 victory when the final whistle was blown.
The Vodacom Bulls will now return home to South Africa and will receive a bye week in the Vodacom URC ahead of their fixture against Munster Rugby at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, March 12.
SCORERS
Zebre Parma (7) 7
TRY: Antonio Rizzi
CONVERSION: Rizzi
Vodacom Bulls (17) 45
TRIES: Johan Grobbelaar, Embrose Papier, Marcell Coetzee, Arno Botha, Lionel Mapoe, Kurt-Lee Arendse
CONVERSIONS: Chris Smith (6)
PENALTY: Smith
