The Reds’ 15-year winless streak in Pretoria has continued with a 41-22 loss to the Bulls.
While Queensland stayed competitive for much of the match, small lapses allowed the hosts to take advantage of a wealth od first-half possession.
It took just one scrum for the Reds to assert their dominance in that area as Queensland winger Chris Feauai-Sautia finished off a set piece win with a try in the fifth minute.
The South African side chanced their arm as the first half went on, with handling errors costing them straightforward chances in the space of two minutes.
A lineout penalty gave the Bulls their first points of the game, in the 20th minute, amid their attacking barrage that ultimately reaped a five-point reward, through prop Marcel Van de Mewre.
The hosts had a second four minutes later, with a series of pick and go plays giving hooker Adriaan Strauss a chance to ground the ball under a pack.
Liam Gill hit back in the dying seconds of the opening half, with a drop goal from 40 metres out to narrow the margin to nine points at the break.
The Bulls took the momentum early in the second, with Lappies Labsuchagne finishing a slick attacking play in the 50th minute.
A Samu Kerevi double whittled that lead down to just five points but the Bulls counter-attack responded in kind to restore a 12-point buffer, before adding another through Piet van Zyl.
The Reds will be concerned about the fitness of Jake Schatz, who had an early exit from the match with a knee injury.
Queensland travels to face the Stormers next weekend, before heading back to Brisbane in a fortnight.
Bulls 41
(Tries: Van Mewre, Strauss, Labuschagne, Ismaiel, van Zyl Cons: Brummer 5 Pens: Brummer 2)
Reds 22
(Tries: Kerevi 2 Feauai-Sautia, Cons: McIntyre 2, Drop: Liam Gill)
