United Rugby Championship: Bulls 55-20 Dragons

Dragons' Ollie Griffiths tries to evade the tackle against Bulls.

Dragons showed plenty of character and promise but ultimately suffered a heavy defeat against Bulls in the first game of their South African double header.

Arno Botha, Lionel Mapoe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Johan Grobbelaar's tries gave Bulls a commanding lead before Dragons responded with Rio Dyer's try.

Jarrod Rosser and Sam Davies crossed in between Arendse's second try.

Marcell Coetzee, Lionel Mapoe and Zak Burger wrapped up a bonus point win for the Bulls.

Jake White's Bulls proved too strong for the Dragons as they secured a second successive win over a Welsh side following a 57-12 victory against Scarlets the previous weekend.

Bulls ran in eight tries against Dragons at Loftus Versfeld and secure a sixth home win for South African sides over the Welsh regions this season.

The South African side are seventh in the United Rugby Championship while Dragons are 15th following a ninth defeat of the season.

Dean Ryan's side will next face Sharks on Friday at Durban's Kings Park.

Bulls: Kurt-Lee Arendse; Canan Moodie, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Madosh Tambwe; Chris Smith, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Jacques van Rooyen, Walt Steenkamp, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (capt), Arno Botha.

Replacements: Joe van Zyl, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, WJ Steenkamp, Zak Burger, Morne Steyn , Cornal Hendricks.

Dragons: Jordan Williams, Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Jack Dixon, Rio Dyer, Sam Davies, Gonzalo Bertranou; Aki Seiuli, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Huw Taylor, Ben Carter, Harri Keddie (c), Ben Fry, Ollie Griffiths

Replacements: Taylor Davies, Josh Reynolds, Leon Brown, Joe Davies, Lennon Greggains, Rhodri Williams, Will Reed, Ioan Davies

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Assistants: Marius van der Westhuizen & Morne Ferreira (SARU)

TMO: Ben Blain (SRU)