The Black Lions secured the first win in the 2025 Toyota Challenge with a 39-38 win over the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The Cheetahs did not deserve to win; however, the number of unforced mistakes made by the hosts did make it “easy” for the Black Lions.
Black Lion started the match using their big forwards to dominate possession. After five minutes of play, flyhalf Luka Tsirekidze converted an easy penalty to take the lead by 03-00.
The Cheetahs attacked off the first quality ball they received, and following several players handling the ball, Marco Janse van Vuren scored in the corner. Clayton Blommetjies converted to edge the Cheetahs into a 07-03 lead after fifteen minutes of play.
The Black Lions' reply was almost immediate when flanker Sandro Mamamtavrishvil scored off the back of a ruck, bulldozing his way over the Cheetahs' tryline. The visitors led 08-07 with twenty-two minutes still to play in the first half.
Eight minutes later, the Cheetahs launched a great attack and forced a five-meter lineout maul from whereof the Cheetahs spread the ball wide. Blommetjies toed the ball forward, and Cohen Jasper collected to score the Cheetahs’ second try. Jasper converted to extend the Cheetahs' lead to 14-08.
Thereafter, the Black Lions once again steadily built the pressure with their big forwards, and with seven minutes still to play, Irakli Kvatadze crashed over.
With time running out, the Black Lions defended three lineout mauls successfully; however, eventually Michael Annies scored a brilliant individual try. Jasper converted to send the Cheetahs into the second half, leading 21-15.
The Black Lions made a strong start to the second half; however, a penalty led to Blommetjies securing a lineout just inside the visitors' twenty-two, from where they spread the ball wide for Victor Sekekete to score. Jasper converted to extend the Cheetahs’ lead to 28-15 after five minutes of play.
The Black Lions struck back immediately, and Giorgi Sinauridze bulldozed his way over the Cheetahs’ tryline for the Black Lions’ third try. Luka Tsirekidze converted to cut the hosts’ lead to 28-22.
After thirteen minutes of play, the Black Lions started to attack with flair and scored a fifty-meter team try when Akaki Tabutsadze cruised over the tryline in the corner to cut the Cheetahs' lead to one point.
Thereafter, Dato Abdushelishvili scored two tries in quick succession in a similar bulldozing manner to extend the Black Lions’ lead to 39-28.
With time running out, the Cheetahs opted for a five-meter lineout-maul and Marko Janse van Rensburg scored off the back of the maul to cut the Black Lions' lead to 39-33.
With time up, Prince Nkabinde scored the Cheetahs’ sixth try to cut the visitors’ lead to 39-38, which was also the final score.
Teams
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Franco Smith, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Raymond Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Arno van der Merwe, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Tielman Niewoudt. Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Malcom Lamont, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Mihlali Mosi, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Zander du Plessis
Black Lion: 15 Otar Metreveli, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Zaur Lutidze, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Shalva Aptsiauri, 10 Luka Tsirekidze, 9 Tengiz Pranidze, 8 Giorgi Sinauridze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 5 Demur Epremidze, 4 Mikheil Babunashvili (c), 3 Kakhaber Darbaidze, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 1 Dato Abdushelishvili. Replacements: 16 Tamaz Tchamiashvili, 17 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 18 Badri Tsikhistavi, 19 Giorgi Nikoladze, 20 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 21 Giorgi Spanderashvili, 22 Alexander Todua, 23 Luka Takaishvili.
