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Defending champion Bulls sank to a third straight defeat in the Super 15 as Western Force produced a second-half turnaround to secure a 26-21 win in Perth on Saturday.
Tries by South Africa internationals Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson helped put the Bulls 15-12 up at halftime at nib Stadium.
But Force center James O'Connor, who kicked three penalties in the first half, added three more after the break while fullback Cameron Shepherd scored a decisive try in the 67th minute, giving the Force a 26-18 lead and sealing the side's first home victory this season.
Morne Steyn booted his third penalty of the match late on to complete an 11-point haul and earn the Bulls a bonus point, but the South African team's hopes of reaching the playoffs took another hit.
The visitors came into the match having suffered back-to-back defeats — to the Crusaders then to league leaders the Reds — but looked on course to end a miserable run on their three-game road trip by going 12-6 up by the 20th minute.
Springboks hooker Ralepelle canceled out a fourth-minute penalty by O'Connor by picking the ball up after an initial forward thrust by Francois Hougaard and bulldozing over the line by two meters.
O'Connor then kicked another penalty in the 17th, before being sin-binned for an illegal dump tackle on Zane Kirchner.
In the Australia winger's absence, the Bulls scored 10 points, with Basson breezing through a gap in the defense to cruise under the posts after scrumhalf Fourie du Preez had darted off the back of a rolling maul.
Steyn converted and, after Willie Ripia landed a penalty for the Force, kicked one of his own for 15-9 in the 28th minute.
O'Connor returned from his 10-minute sanction to put the Force just three points in arrears at the break but the Bulls started the second half well and almost grabbed a third try when Stephan Dippenaar put his foot in touch just as he was diving over the line to ground in the right corner.
Steyn's penalty in the 55th was the Bulls' only reward for their dominance before the Force fought back. O'Connor kicked two more penalties in the space of four minutes to remain perfect with the boot and level the scores.
Shepherd finished off a series of phases by going over in the corner before O'Connor's 76th-minute penalty ended the hopes of the Bulls, who at least went home with a bonus point thanks to Steyn's late kick. The Pretoria-based side is seven points outside the top six after nine games.
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Western Force 26 (Cameron Shepherd try; James O'Connor 6 penalties, Willie Ripia 1 penalty), def. the Bulls 21 (Chiliboy Ralepelle, Bjorn Basson tries; Morne Steyn 1 conversion, 3 penalties). HT: 12-15.
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Tries by South Africa internationals Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson helped put the Bulls 15-12 up at halftime at nib Stadium.
But Force center James O'Connor, who kicked three penalties in the first half, added three more after the break while fullback Cameron Shepherd scored a decisive try in the 67th minute, giving the Force a 26-18 lead and sealing the side's first home victory this season.
Morne Steyn booted his third penalty of the match late on to complete an 11-point haul and earn the Bulls a bonus point, but the South African team's hopes of reaching the playoffs took another hit.
The visitors came into the match having suffered back-to-back defeats — to the Crusaders then to league leaders the Reds — but looked on course to end a miserable run on their three-game road trip by going 12-6 up by the 20th minute.
Springboks hooker Ralepelle canceled out a fourth-minute penalty by O'Connor by picking the ball up after an initial forward thrust by Francois Hougaard and bulldozing over the line by two meters.
O'Connor then kicked another penalty in the 17th, before being sin-binned for an illegal dump tackle on Zane Kirchner.
In the Australia winger's absence, the Bulls scored 10 points, with Basson breezing through a gap in the defense to cruise under the posts after scrumhalf Fourie du Preez had darted off the back of a rolling maul.
Steyn converted and, after Willie Ripia landed a penalty for the Force, kicked one of his own for 15-9 in the 28th minute.
O'Connor returned from his 10-minute sanction to put the Force just three points in arrears at the break but the Bulls started the second half well and almost grabbed a third try when Stephan Dippenaar put his foot in touch just as he was diving over the line to ground in the right corner.
Steyn's penalty in the 55th was the Bulls' only reward for their dominance before the Force fought back. O'Connor kicked two more penalties in the space of four minutes to remain perfect with the boot and level the scores.
Shepherd finished off a series of phases by going over in the corner before O'Connor's 76th-minute penalty ended the hopes of the Bulls, who at least went home with a bonus point thanks to Steyn's late kick. The Pretoria-based side is seven points outside the top six after nine games.
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Western Force 26 (Cameron Shepherd try; James O'Connor 6 penalties, Willie Ripia 1 penalty), def. the Bulls 21 (Chiliboy Ralepelle, Bjorn Basson tries; Morne Steyn 1 conversion, 3 penalties). HT: 12-15.
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