Francois Hougaard gave the Bulls the edge in Saturday's derby at Loftus Versfeld, writes JON CARDINELLI.

A well-judged tactical kick by Sarel Pretorius in the first half moved the Cheetahs into a prime attacking position. His crisp passing and incisive running gave the visitors attacking momentum throughout and he also made an impact on defence with a try-saving tackle on Jan Serfontein.

Hougaard's tactical kicking was inconsistent, but he was a constant threat with ball in hand. From a defensive viewpoint, Hougaard made a crucial play in the dying moments.

The Cheetahs countered through Cornal Hendricks, but the Bulls managed to tackle and isolate the winger. Hougaard then made the decision to compete for the ball at the tackle, and won a penalty that killed the visitors' momentum.

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