Seven-try haul keeps Bulls top

TWO tries apiece from Francois Hougaard and Pierre Spies helped the Bulls maintain their stronghold at the top of the Super 14 table with a 50-35 victory over the Highlanders in Pretoria.

The defending champions did not have everything their own way, though. Israel Dagg scored a hat-trick for the New Zealand outfit to give his side the consolation of a bonus point, but further scores for the hosts from Gary Botha, Gerhard van den Heever and Wynand Olivier made it ten Super 14 wins in a row.