For the first time this season the Bulls did not earn a bonus point, but like true champions they managed to maintain their unbeaten run by edging the Hurricanes 19-18 in an intense arm-wrestle at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, on Friday.

The 'Canes, who outscored the Bulls by two tries to one, had managed to take a 12-0 lead in the first quarter.

However, the Bulls, who hit the lead for the first time in the 68th minute, showed - as they have done often this season - that they can come from behind to win. They never panic and trust their ability to outscore the opposition.

The Hurricanes will bemoan their 16 handling errors, mostly up-and-unders that were dropped, but what they can't argue is that the Bulls deserved to win - even though the home team produced what is arguably their worst performance this season.

And the win stretched to 15 matches their unbeaten run at Loftus and ensures they will be at the top of the standings when they depart on their four-match Australasian tour at the weekend.

Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore admitted that his team had a point to prove - after defeats to the Cheetahs and Stormers - but still managed just a solitary bonus point from their three matches in South Africa.

Bulls captain Victor Matfield, who played in his 100th game for the Bulls, described the Hurricanes as a "spirited" side and praised his own team for "sticking to their guns".

"It was a very different game, not too flashy," Matfield said.

He also praised the Hurricanes' defence in the second half when the Bulls had about 90 percent of the possession, but couldn't score.

The scorers:

For the Bulls:
Tries: Kirchner
Cons: Steyn
Pens: Steyn 4

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Lowe, Thrush
Cons: Ripia
Pens: Ripia 2

Yellow card: Victor Vito (Hurricanes, 61 - repeated infringements, collapsing the maul)

Teams:

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux/Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Derick Kuun, 20 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22 Pedrie Wannenburg.

Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Bryn Evans, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 David Smith.

Referee: Nathan Pearce (Australia)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Shaun Veldsman