The Toyota Cheetahs secured their place in the 2024 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final with a convincing 41-14 win over the Airlink Pumas.
The Pumas opened the scoring with two converted penalties during the first five minutes of the match by Clinton Swart to lead 06-00. However, thereafter, the Cheetahs started to dominate and took the lead 07-06 after twenty minutes of play, when brilliant hands sent Daniel Kasende on his way over the Pumas' tryline.
Seven minutes later Jandre Nel sniped past the edge of a maul to score the Cheetahs' second try and extend their lead to 14-06. A Late penalty in the first half by Clinton Swart reduced the Cheetahs' lead to 14-09 which was also the halftime score.
Both teams started like a house on fire with the Pumas opening the scoring with a try by Ntsika Fisanti which was shortly followed by a try by Munier Hartzenberg to extend the Cheetahs' lead to 21-14 and twenty-eight minutes to play.
With twenty minutes to play the Cheetahs spread the ball wide to a waiting Daniel Kasende who scored his second try of the match to extend the visitors' lead to 26-14.
A converted penalty was added by George Lourens before Aidon Davis and Gideon van der Merwe secured the win with two forward tries.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas: Try: Ntsika Fisanti. Penalties: Clinton Swart (3)
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Daniel Kasende (2), Jandre Nel, Munier Hartzenberg, Aidon Davis, Gideon van der Merwe. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (3), George Lourens. Penalty: George Lourens.
Teams:
Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 David Brits, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Marvellous Mashimbyi, 21 Andre Fouche, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Phiko Sobahle.
Toyota Cheetahs:15 Michael Annies, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Jeandrè Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Aidon Davis, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 George Lourens, 23 Litha Nkula.