PRETORIA (AFP) - Northern Bulls of South Africa overwhelmed Waikato Chiefs of New Zealand 61-17 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to record a record winning margin for a Super 14 final.

After conceding the first try of a match watched by a sell-out 52,000 crowd, the Bulls scored four tries en route to a 34-7 half-time advantage and crossed the line a further four times in the second half.

The previous widest victory margin was eight years ago when the Australian ACT Brumbies outclassed the South African Coastal Sharks 36-6 in the southern hemisphere championship climax.

"The Gods were with us in recent weeks and our success proves that hard work off the field is rewarded on it. A special thanks must go to our coach Frans Ludeke," said Bulls captain and lock Victor Matfield.

Chiefs skipper and fullback Mils Muliaina was gracious after one of the most shattering experiences of a long career littered with appearances for the All Blacks.

"Bulls thoroughly deserved their win by showing us how to play and boast fantastic supporters. We did not turn up this evening, which was such a pity for those who travelled so far to back us," admitted Muliaina.

Chiefs soaked up fierce early pressure before taking a seventh-minute lead when fly-half Stephen Donald fielded a kick from fullback Zane Kirchner and set up wing Lelia Masaga to score a converted try under the posts.

The home crowd were stunned, but the silence lasted just two minutes before scrum-half Fourie du Preez took a tap penalty close to the Chiefs line and barged over for a try fly-half Morne Steyn converted.

Du Preez struck again soon after as he snapped up a pass after centre Wynand Olivier dispossessed Chiefs hooker Aled de Malmanche and darted down the right touchline to cross for a try with Steyn again adding the conversion.

Bulls were playing like men inspired, not giving Chiefs a second to settle, and scored a third try on 15 minutes when wing Bryan Habana pounced on a grubber kick and raced away for a try Steyn converted from the touchline.

Steyn, scorer of four drop goals in the semi-final triumph over defending champions Canterbury Crusaders last weekend, dropped another one and the Bulls led by 17 points midway through the first half.

Steyn kicked a penalty and Donald missed one before 2007 World Rugby Player of the Year Habana crossed the line again in the final minute of the opening half after an intercept and the conversion gave the home team a 34-7 lead.

Muliaina was first to score in the second half as he demonstrated good handling skills, acceleration and power to go over under the posts and Donald kicked his second conversion.

But the Bulls responded inside two minutes with Steyn, leading Super 14 points scorer this season ahead of Donald, slotting a simple penalty to maintain his 100 percent goal kicking record in the match.

Donald kicked a penalty and then came the Bulls fifth try as inspirational Matfield dived over a mass of players to touch down and a Steyn kick at goal failed for the first time with the conversion hitting the post.

More misery was to follow for Chiefs as centre Wynand Olivier and number eight Pierre Spies scored tries and Steyn converted the second for the Bulls to move 54-17 ahead entering the closing stages.

And there was still time for another try as replacement forward Danie Rossouw crossed the line and fly-half Burton Francis, a late entrant in place of Steyn, converted.