WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Bullocking centre Jack Goodhue scored two tries as the Canterbury Crusaders snapped a two game losing streak with a 33-14 victory over South Africa's Bulls on a rain-soaked evening in Christchurch on Friday.
Lock Scott Barrett and hooker Codie Taylor had set the Super Rugby champions back on the path to winning ways before Goodhue crossed twice in 10 minutes either side of the break with winger George Bridge sealing the bonus point close to the end.
The Bulls, who have shown much greater adventure this season under new coach John Mitchell, dominated possession for large parts of the match but were unable to make the most of it and slumped to a fourth successive defeat.
Winger Travis Ismaiel scored a brilliant individual try for the visitors after half an hour and replacement back Marco van Staden grabbed another with 11 minutes remaining in the contest.
A bright start had seen the Bulls lay siege to the home try line but the Crusaders gave them a lesson in making the most of their opportunities when Barrett went over from a catch-and-drive after 16 minutes.
Taylor then doubled the lead from a carbon copy attacking lineout, peeling off the advancing maul to crash through the defence.
Three minutes later and Ismaiel finally gave the Bulls some reward for their endeavour when he came off his wing from a scrum, stepped off his left foot and outpaced the home defence to touch down.
The Crusaders restored the two try cushion a minute before the break, though, when Goodhue again exposed the try-line defence of the Bulls by wrestling his way through a string of forwards.
His second came nine minutes after halftime through more orthodox means for a centre when he took the ball at pace off a nice line to cut through the midfield.
Van Staden charged straight up the middle of the park to briefly threaten the Crusaders' bonus point at the death only for Bridge to crash through some more Bulls tacklers to make it safe.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; Editing by)
