The Hurricanes have earned a hard-fought 34-20 bonus point win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
After scoring four first half tries to lead 24-13 at halftime, the Hurricanes could only manage one further try in the second half against a determined home team.
The Hurricanes tenth win from 12 matches lifted the club into second place on the New Zealand Conference points table behind the unbeaten Crusaders.
It hasn't been a vintage season for the Bulls, but they proved as stubborn as ever to make the Hurricanes work for every point.
CAPTION: Hooker Leni Apisai stretches over for his team's only try in the second half in Pretoria. PHOTO: Getty Sport
Head coach Chris Boyd said the match had been one of the toughest under during his tenure with the team.
"In the period I have been with the Canes it's probably the most battered changing room I have seen... we were not great technically or tactically, but we take a lot of positives in the fact we went deep in the well emotionally and did pretty well."
Injuries out of the match included openside Ardie Savea and lock Mark Abbott both coming from the field with head knocks as well as wing Wes Goosen suffering a shoulder injury.
The opening 10 minutes had hinted at a try fest after Hurricanes fullback Jordie Barrett and Bulls wing Matthew Duncan traded quick fire tries.
CAPTION: Jordie Barrett tackles Jade Stighling of the Bulls during his team's tough win in Pretoria. PHOTO: Getty Sport
However, despite the Hurricanes adding tries to Ngani Laumape, Goosen and Abbott before the break the match was closer than the scoreline suggested.
Things had started with a hiss and a roar after Barrett shot onto a deft pass from prop Loni Uhila to slice through and score under the posts with a subtle dummy and fend.
The Bulls replied immediately when Matthews raced onto a chip kick and sprinted away to make it 7-7 before the 10 minute mark.
Laumape sliced through for a brilliant solo try, his 12th of the season, to make it 14-7 after 20 minutes and despite two Tian Schoeman penalties the Hurricanes looked the more threatening of the two teams.
Goosen scooted over in the corner to extend the lead and then after turning down a series of handy penalties, the Hurricanes got the reward they were looking for before halftime when Abbott scored in the corner thanks to an assist from locking partner Sam Lousi.
CAPTION: Wing Julian Savea races away from a Bulls defender at Loftus Versfeld. PHOTO: Getty Sport
Hurricanes first five Beauden Barrett's late withdrawal due to headaches, saw Otere Black wear the No.10 jersey and the latter added three conversions and a penalty to keep the Bulls at bay.
Boyd said the source of Barrett's head aches was still unclear, but he had been withdrawn from the match by the medical team as a precaution.
Barrett left the field at halftime during last weekend's win over the Cheetahs in Wellington, passed a concussion test and had shown no symptoms until the team landed in Johannesburg.
Although the team doctor was unsure whether his headaches were due to travel, altitude or humidity, it was decided to withdraw him from the Bulls match the day before kick off as a precaution.
"When we came over here he's had some headaches and the doctor was unable to differentiate between the altitude, the humidity, the air conditioning; because when you come over here on a short turnaround, the headaches and those types of symptoms are pretty normal," Boyd said.
"But the fact that he couldn't isolate those out from the back-end of the game against the Cheetahs meant that we were very cautious and withdrew him out of the game."
Barrett had exercised earlier in the week without any issues.
CAPTION: Otere Black wore the No.10 jersey in Pretoria after Beauden Barrett's withdrawal the day before the match. PHOTO: Getty Sport
A physical second half against the Bulls became something of an arm wrestle as the travel factor began to kick in for the Hurricanes.
Ardie Savea departed after a head clash with Black and blindside Vaea Fifita was noticeably effected by cramp as the match wore on.
But the Hurricanes bench delivered the required impact with replacement hooker Apisai scoring from a well worked counter attack, the final pass on the inside from wing Julian Savea providing a much needed buffer on the score board.
A late try to Bulls loose forward Nic de Jager was the last scoring act of a tough match.
The Hurricanes now set their sights on the Force in Perth.
Scorers:
Hurricanes 34 (Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape, Wes Goosen, Mark Abbott, Leni Apisai tries; Otere Black 2 con, pen, Jordie Barrett con) Bulls 20 (Duncan Matthews, Nic de Jager tries; Tian Schoeman con, 2 pen, Tony Jantjies con). HT: 24-13
CAPTION: Hooker Ricky Riccitelli looks to pass during the match against the Bulls. PHOTO: Getty Sport