The Cell C Sharks dominated the Toyota Cheetahs in a wet Durban on Friday to secure a bonus-point 35-23 win.
The hosts dominated the first half but could not convert their dominance into points although they led 21-10 going into the second half. The wet conditions combined with the brutal defence by the visitors unsettled the attack of the Cell C Sharks who will not be happy with the scoreline at the halftime break.
The second half was an even affair with the Cell C Sharks "winning" the second half 14-13. The wet conditions did make it difficult for both sides, however, the number of penalties conceded by the Toyota Cheetahs was the major reason for their second defeat in two weeks.
The Cheetahs dominated the early exchanges, however, an extra ten meters given for backchatting gave the Cell C Sharks' Lionel Cronje just enough distance to convert a penalty to open the scoring for the home team to lead 03-00.
The Cell C Sharks absorbed the initial pressure from the visitors and started to launch several attacks on the tryline of the Toyota Cheetahs. Following an attack with fourteen phases Aphelele Fassi scored in the corner for the Cell C Sharks to lead 10-00 and twenty-eight minutes left to play in the first half.
Sibabalo Qoma (Toyota Cheetahs) was sent off with a yellow card after sixteen minutes of play in the first half.
Ruan Pienaar converted a penalty to open the Toyota Cheetahs account on the scoreboard to trail 03-10 and seventeen minutes to play in the first half, whereafter Alwayno Visagie fell on a brilliant grubber by Yaw Penxe to score the Cell C Sharks' second try of the match and extend the Cell C Sharks lead to 15-03 and ten minutes to play in the first half.
The number of penalties conceded by the visitors gave Lionel Cronje an opportunity to convert a second penalty for the Cell C Sharks to lead 18-03.
Sibabalo Qoma took a quick penalty five meters from the Cell C Sharks and barged his way over to score the Toyota Cheetahs' first try and reduced the hosts' lead to 18-10, however, the Toyota Cheetahs' ill-discipline continued and Lionel Cronje converted a third penalty for the Cell C Sharks to lead 21-10 going into the second half.
The Toyota Cheetahs started the second half using their forwards to build pressure on the defence of the Cell C Sharks forcing some valuable penalties. Ruan Pienaar converted his second penalty after just three minutes of play.
Tiaan Fourie scored the Cell C Sharks' third try after twelve minutes of play in the second half. Fourie picked up a ball that popped from a Cell C Sharks' scrum that was going backwards at speed to snipe and score an "easy" try.
The Toyota Cheetahs' Ruan Pienaar converted a penalty as a reward for their growing dominance in the second half. The converted penalty reduced the Cell C Sharks' lead to 28-16 and although Louis van der Westhuizen (Toyota Cheetahs) was sent off with a yellow card with eight minutes to go the Toyota Cheetahs still had a chance to surprise.
However, the bonus-point try by Dameon Venter from the back of a driving maul sealed the win for the hosts who won 35-23 despite a late try by Daniel Maartens for the Toyota Cheetahs.
Scorers
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Aphelele Fassi, Alwayno Visagie, Tiaan Fourie, Dameon Venter. Conversions: Lionel Cronje (2). Penalties: Lionel Cronje (3).
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Sibabalo Qoma, Daniel Maartens. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar, Siya Masuku. Penalties: Ruan Pienaar (3).
Teams:
Cell C Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Yaw Penxe, 14 Murray Koster, 13 Murray Koster, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Tiaan Fourie, 8 Henco Venter, 7 James Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Jeandre Labuschagne, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Khwezi Mona. Replacements: 16 Dameon Venter, 17.Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Marco de Witt, 20 Sikhukbuzo Notshe, 21 Celimphilo Gumede, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Marnus Potgieter
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 George Cronje, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Nqobisizwe Mxoli, 18 Dolph Botha, 19 Friedel , 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Siya Masuku, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Evardi Boshoff.