The belligerent Bulls kept their faint Currie Cup playoff hopes flickering with a bludgeoning victory over Western Province at Loftus yesterday.

Bulls (20) 28Western Province (3) 20

They refused to be humbled at Loftus again after a crushing loss to the Sharks two weeks ago, and produced a performance that will ensure the rest of the competitors look nervously behind, knowing the Bulls are building momentum going into the business end of the tournament.

Bulls flyhalf Francois Brummer contributed 13 points from two conversions and three penalties, but it was the power of a focused pack that laid the platform for a victory.

The Bulls are six points behind the fourth-placed Cheetahs with four rounds to play, while WP have maintained second, but have now dropped 10 points behind top-placed Golden Lions.

Flank Jacques Potgieter, making his Bulls debut, was the catalyst for the home team's impressive performance. His direct running constantly pushed the Bulls over the advantage line and from that platform, the Bulls heavy runners punched holes in the Province defence.

The visitors lost the collisions and, as a result, they couldn't manufacture any momentum - especially in the first half. The Bulls' Currie Cup season hinged on a win and they played like desperate men.

Two tries inside the first quarter, through No8 CJ Stander and fullback Zane Kirchner, rocked Western Province back on their heels, but didn't crush their spirit. By halftime they only had an Isma-eel Dollie penalty to show for their efforts.

With Dewald Potgieter and his namesake, Jacques, also bossing the breakdown, all Province could do was illegally slow down ball. They paid the price as referee Pro Legoete repeatedly penalised them.

The Cape side clawed their way back with tries from wing Danie Poolman and centre Marcel Brache in the third quarter, which ensured that the decent crowd were unable to celebrate until the very end.

The WP bench, with explosive hooker Deon Fourie, playing flank, and live-wire scrumhalf Nic Groom made an impact. Province lifted the tempo and the Bulls struggled to stay with them, paying the price for their flying start.

But desperation ensured that the Bulls found something extra as the minutes ticked by and it was old hand centre Wynand Olivier who scythed through a gap to score the try that took the game away from WP with 10 minutes remaining.