The Toyota Cheetahs faced the Western Force on Friday in a ding dong battle, and lost 27-30 in a match that will not be remembered for a long time.
The Western Force opened the scoring with great try following a dominant maul to lead 05-00 after thirteen minutes of play. Minutes later Ruan Pienaar converted a penalty to make it a two point game with Western Force leading 05-03.
Captain Max Burey extended the Western Force lead over the visitors, leading 08-03 after twenty four minutes of play in the first half. Two minutes later Gearge Poolman controlled a great cross kick by Max Burey to score the Western Force's second try.
Following thirty minutes of play the Toyota Cheetahs managed to get their first driving maul going which led to Gideon van der Merwe scoring from the back of the maul. The Western Force's lead was once again reduced to just three points.
The Toyota Cheetahs attacked from the kick off and Hencus van Wyk bulldozed his way over the tryline, following another dominant maul, of the Western Force. The Toyota Cheetahs led 17-13 at the halftime break.
The Western Force took advantage from an overthrow to score after just four minutes of play. Lock Jackson Pugh bulldozed his way over the Cheetahs tryline. Western Force retook the lead by 20-17. Two minutes later Ruan Pienaar converted his second penalty to level the scores.
Marnus van der Merwe scored the Toyota Cheetahs' second try from a brilliant driving maul to lead 27-20. Max Burey replied almost immediately with a converted penalty to reduce the Toyota Cheetahs lead to 27-23 after fifteen minutes of play in the second half.
The Western Force changed their tactics and took a quick tap penalty, whereafter, Carlo Tizzano powered his way over the Toyota Cheetahs' tryline. The Western Force retook the lead by 30-27 with twelfe minutes still to play.
The Western Force "dominated" the final ten minutes and they held on to win 30-27 in an error-ridden match.
Scorers:
Western Force: Tries: Marley Pearce, George Poolman, Jackson Pugh, Carlo Tizzano. Conversions: Max Burey (2). Penalties: Max Burey (2).
Cheetahs: Tries: Gideon van der Merwe, Hencus van Wyk, Marnus van der Merwe. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (3). Penalties: Ruan Pienaar (2).
Teams:
Western Force: 15 Harry Potter, 14 George Poolman, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 Max Burey (c), 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Jeremy Williams (c), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Faamanu Kalolo, 5 Lopeti Faifua, 4 Jackson Pugh, 3 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Marley Pearce. Replacements: 16 Ford Hemi, 17. Angus Wagner, 18. Santiago Medrano, 19. Reagan Leslie, 20. Albert Alcock, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Rewita Biddle
Cheetahs: 15. Tapiwa Mafura, 14. Daniel Kasende, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Reinhardt Fortuin, 11. Cohen Jasper, 10. Ruan Pienaar, 9. Rewan Kruger, 8. Friedle Olivier, 7. Sibabalo Qoma, 6. Gideon van der Merwe, 5. Victor Sekekete (c), 4. Rynier Bernardo, 3. Laurence Victor, 2. Marnus van der Merwe, 1. Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16. Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17. Alulutho Tshakweni, 18. Hencus van Wyk, 19. Carl Wegner, 20. Daniel Maartens, 21. Jeandre Rudolph, 22. Raegan Oranje, 23. George Lourens.
