Only 10 points separate the log-leading Waratahs and the ninth placed Hurricanes at the conclusion of round eight in the Vodacom Super 14 after South Africa’s Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Stormers both conceded defeats this weekend.

The Pretoria outfit suffered their first loss in the 2010 competition and dropped to second position after leading the Vodacom Super 14 log for the first seven rounds, following their 32-17 defeat to the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday. The Cape franchise were relegated to fourth place after they conceded a last minute 16-15 defeat to the bottom of the log Western Force in Perth on Friday.

The Vodacom Cheetahs failed to stop the high-riding Waratahs who moved into pole position following their 40-17 victory in Sydney on Saturday. The hosts started the weekend in fourth position.

The Waratahs ran in five tries thanks to the efforts of Rob Horne, Benn Robinson, Al Baxter, Kurtley Beale and Josh Holmes and outclassed their opponents in most facets of play.

Meanwhile the Sharks secured their third consecutive win in the Vodacom Super 14 following their 30-28 victory over the Reds in Durban on Saturday. The hosts are still in 10th position on the log, 12 points behind the log-leading Waratahs, but are now only eight points away from the fourth positioned Vodacom Stormers who dropped two places after going down to the Western Force on Friday.

The Vodacom Stormers suffered a heart-breaking last minute defeat to the Force in Perth after flyhalf David Hill kicked a drop goal to sink the Cape franchise to their first away loss of the competition.

Flyhalf Peter Grant was the only points’ scorer for the visitors after kicking five penalties in this match which saw the occasional break in concentration of the Vodacom Stormers’ much haunted defensive system. The Cape side were also guilty of making numerous handling errors and made crucial errors at critical stages of the game.

The Blues still hold the Auckland bragging rights over the Vodacom Bulls after the hosts ran in two tries to consign the defending champions to their first defeat of the competition.

The Blues, who have never conceded a home defeat to the Vodacom Bulls in Super Rugby history, were responsible for playing most of the rugby at Eden Park and could easily have added more five-pointers against their Pretoria opponents who failed to stop the Blues from easily crossing the advantage line.

Flyhalf Morne Steyn is still the leading points’ scorer in the Vodacom Super 14 with 136 and kicked three penalties and a drop goal while No 8 Pierre Spies scored a brilliant try in the corner late in the first half.

Isaia Toeava and Joe Rokocoko were the try scorers for the hosts with flyhalf Stephen Brett converting both scores. The former Crusaders flyhalf Brett also kicked five penalties.

While in Durban, the Sharks held their nerve to record their third win in the competition. Odwa Ndungane, Jacques Botes and JP Pietersen added tries for the hosts. Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar scored 15 points with the boot by kicking three penalties and three conversions.

Will Chambers scored a brace of tries for the Reds with Quade Cooper and Greg Holmes adding the other five pointers for the visitors. Cooper converted all four tries.

The Crusaders remained in third position following their 26-26 draw result against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.

Weekend results:

Force 16 Stormers 15

Scorers: Western Force – Try: David Pocock; Conversion: James O’Connor; Penalties: O’Connor (2); Drop goal: David Hill.

Vodacom Stormers – Penalties: Peter Grant (5).

Blues 32 Bulls 17

Scorers: Blues – Tries: Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko; Conversions: Stephen Brett: (2); Penalties: Brett (5).

Vodacom Bulls – Try: Pierre Spies; Penalties: Morne Steyn (3); Drop goal: Steyn (1).

Waratahs 40 Cheetahs 17

Scorers: Waratahs – Tries: Rob Horne, Benn Robinson, Al Baxter, Kurtley Beale, Josh Holmes; Conversions: Daniel Halangahu (2), Berrick Barnes; Penalties: Halangahu (3).

Vodacom Cheetahs – Tries: WP Nel, Corne Uys; Conversions: Meyer Bosman (2); Penalty: Naas Olivier.

Sharks 30 Reds 28

Scorers: The Sharks – Tries: Odwa Ndungane, Jacques Botes, JP Pietersen; Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (3); Penalties: Pienaar (3).

Reds – Tries: Will Chambers (2), Quade Cooper, Greg Holmes; Conversions: Cooper (4).

Other weekend results:

Hurricanes 26 Crusaders 26

The Hurricanes and the Crusaders played out an exciting 26-26 draw which saw seven tries scored at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday.

Flyhalf Dan Carter added 11 points by kicking three penalties and a conversion while George Whitelock, Zac Guildford and Ti`i Paulo scored tries for the Canterbury side. Ma’a Nonu and Jeremy Thrush added five-pointers for the hosts which were both converted by flyhalf Willie Ripia. Hurricanes scrumhalf Piri Weepu also kicked four penalties.

The result ensured that the Crusaders maintained their position at three on the Vodacom Super 14 log while the Hurricanes ended the round in 9th place after eight games.

Scorers: Hurricanes – Tries: Ma`a Nonu, Jeremy Thrush; Conversions: Willie Ripia (2); Penalties: Piri Weepu (4).

Crusaders – Tries: George Whitelock, Zac Guildford, Ti`i Paulo; Conversion: Daniel Carter; Penalties: Carter (3).

Chiefs 27 Highlanders 21

The Chiefs are in joint sixth position on the Vodacom Super 14 log along with the Reds and Brumbies following their 27-21 victory over the Highlanders on Saturday.

Centre Stephen Donald added 17 points for the hosts after he scored a try, kicked two penalties and converted the five-pointers scored by Sione Lauaki and Sona Taumalolo. For the Highlanders Hayden Triggs and Fetu’u Vainikolo added their names to the try scoring sheet. Robbie Robinson kicked a drop goal while fullback Israel Dagg added two penalties and one conversion.

Scorers: Chiefs – Tries: Stephen Donald, Sione Lauaki, Sona Taumalolo; Conversions: Donald (3); Penalties: Donald (2).

Highlanders – Tries: Hayden Triggs, Fetu’u Vainikolo; Conversion: Israel Dagg; Penalties: Dagg (2); Drop goal: Robbie Robinson.