Rugby-Bulls end Super 14 semi-final hopes for Brumbies

PRETORIA, May 9 (Reuters) - The Bulls overcame two yellow cards in the first half to eke out a 28-17 victory over the ACT Brumbies in a Super 14 match in Pretoria on Friday.

The Bulls outscored the visitors by three tries to two in their final home game of the competition, and ended the Brumbies' hopes of earning a place in the semi-finals. The Bulls stay 10th and out of contention for a last-four place.

The Bulls scored first after the Brumbies fumbled a high kick, the ball was carried up and then moved wide to centre JP Nel who powered over in the fourth minute. Flyhalf Morne Steyn's 52-metre penalty eight minutes later gave his team an 8-0 lead.

The visitors replied at the end of the first quarter when lock Alister Campbell cut the line inside the Bulls 22, slipped through a tackle and dived over for the score.

Referee Steve Walsh yellow-carded Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner for a dangerous tackle in the build-up to the try as Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock converted to bring his team within a point.

The 14-man Bulls again profited from a poorly fielded high kick only three minutes later when prop Gurthro Steenkamp pounced on a loose ball before flanker Wikus van Heerden drove over the ruck to dot it down on the tryline. Steyn's conversion put the Bulls 15-7 ahead.

With a little less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half Kirchner returned to the field, but the fullback was almost immediately replaced in the sin-bin by Bulls hooker Derick Kuun who was found guilty of illegally using his hands in the ruck.

The home team retained an eight-point lead as both teams traded a further penalty-kick before changing sides.

The Bulls added a penalty by Steyn just after the restart and then centre Wynand Oliver received the ball deep inside the visitors' 22, dummy-passed his way through a scrambling Brumbies defence, and outpaced winger Afusipa Taumoepeau to score near the posts. Steyn's conversion moved the home team into a 28-10 lead after 55 minutes.