Bulls see off Lions in scrappy Jukskei URC derby

At Ellis Park

It was a case of a different season, but the same problems for the Lions as they were beaten 31-15 by the Bulls in their United Rugby Championship (URC) opener at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Lions could be excused for the fact that the game was a season starter, but exhibited the same kind of stage fright that hamstrung them in South African derbies.

RECAP | URC - Lions v Bulls

The Bulls, who showed lesser ring rust, did the right things at the right times to keep the Lions comfortably at bay.

The Bulls, last season's losing finalists, have the comfort of a home game against Edinburgh while the Lions have an away date with Welsh side Ospreys.

The Bulls were deserving of their 15-8 half-time lead as it was earned by some unusually timid rugby from the hosts.

They allowed the Bulls to run at them from the first whistle and when Marcell Coetzee burrowed his way over in the fourth minute, the Lions were shell-shocked.

Jordan Hendrikse's ninth-minute penalty eased the pressure somewhat, but the Bulls' combination of structured and broken rugby kept the Lions' defence guessing.

This was evident in Cornal Hendricks's 23rd-minute try that initially started from the Bulls' try-line, from where it was aided by a brainless run without support by Lions fullback Andries Coetzee.

The Bull expertly used the width of the field to move the Lions' defence into uncomfortable positions and by the time Hendricks crossed over in the corner, there were tight forwards manning the wide channels.

With Chris Smith's 20th-minute penalty added to the scoring equation, the Bulls led 15-3 and the Lions had yet to fire a shot in anger.

The Lions finally got their act together and scored in the 34th minute through Francke Horn from a rolling maul the