Sergeal Petersen’s two tries and Johan Goosen’s additional try, along with his 15-point contribution, led the Bulls to a hard-fought victory at Loftus Versfeld.

Leinster fought back with tries from James Lowe and Caelan Doris, but their quest for a ninth URC title and first trophy since 2021 fell just short.

Despite a frantic opening, neither team scored initially as both defenses matched the intensity of the attacks.

The Bulls were dominating the kicking game, and wings Petersen and Devon Williams had early scoring opportunities before the hosts finally crossed the line after 19 minutes.