The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Cell C Sharks in Bloemfontein today. The Sharks won a fast-paced try fest with 47-30.
The Sharks were in control at the end of the first half. The second half became a loose game with the poor defence by both sides resulting in several "exciting" tries. The ill-discipline by the Cheetahs at the end of the day may be the deciding factor.
04:54 A grubber through by David Brits were collected by Rosco Speckman who strolled over for the Cheetahs 1st try, (05-00).
16:18 Cheetash's Ruan Pienaar was sent off for a cynical infringement.
20:00 The Cheetahs dominated the early parts of the first quarter. However, the Sharks were growing in confidence and ended the first quarter as the dominant side.
20:44 Werner Kok scored the Sharks first try after a movement that started in their own half, (05-07).
25:16 Brandon Thomson converted a penalty in the absence of Ruan Pienaar who was still in the bin, (08-07).
29:14 Great work by Marnus Potgieter allowed him to put away Grant Williams who scored the Sharks second try, (08-14).
32:15 Ruan Pienaar converted his first penalty to cut the Sharks lead to 3 points, (11-14).
34:49 Curwin Bosch converted his second penalty, (11-17).
39:27 Anthony Volmink scored the Sharks 3rd try. Thaakir Abrahams did a lot of work that resulted in Volmink's try, (11-24).
40:00 The momentum was completely in the favour of the Sharks, as the defence of the Cheetahs' started to leak tries out wide in the second quarter.
43:28 Curwin Bosch converted his 2nd penalty, (11-27).
48:47 Brandon Thompson scored the Cheetahs 2nd try after the Cheetahs applied a lot of tryline pressure, (18-27).
53:07 The Cheetahs scored their 3rd try when Duncan Saal brilliantly collected a grubber by Clayton Blommetjies to squeeze over in the corner, (23-27).
56:40 Grant Williams scored his second try for the Sharks after great work from prop Ntuthuko Mchunu who is having a brilliant game himself, (23-34).
60:00 All structure lost in this game at this stage with the defenders not doing enough to stop the outside backs' brilliant attacks.
62:23 Rosco Spekman delivered yet another chunk of speckmagic when he outran several Sharks defenders to score his second try, (30-34).
65:54 Curwin Bosch slotted a long-distance penalty, (30-37).
70:38 Kerron van Vuuren scored the Sharks 5th try from the back of a 5m lineout maul, (30-44).
80:00 Curwin Bosch converted yet another penalty, (30-47)
Scores:
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Rosko Specman (2), Brandon Thompson, Clayton Blommetjies. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar, Reinhardt Fortuin. Penalties: Brandon Thomson, Ruan Pienaar.
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Werner Kok, Grant Williams (2), Anthony Volmink, Kerron van Vuuren. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (5). Penalties: Curwin Bosch (4).
Toyota Cheetahs: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Duncan Saal, 13. David Brits, 12. Siya Masuku, 11. Rosko Specman, 10. Brandon Thomson, 9. Ruan Pienaar (C), 8. Aidon Davis, 7. Jacques Potgieter, 6. Jeandre Rudolph, 5. Jean Droste, 4. Rynier Bernardo, 3. Hencus van Wyk, 2. Marnus van der Merwe, 1. AluluthuTshakweni. Replacements: 16. Louis van der Westhuizen, 17. Cameron Dawson, 18. Conraad van Vuuren, 19. Victor Sekekete, 20. Junior Pokomela, 21. Zinedine Booysen, 22. Reinhardt Fortuin, 23. Chris Smit.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Anthony Volmink, 14. Marnus Potgieter, 13. Werner Kok, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Dylan Richardson, 6. James Venter, 5. Reniel Hugo, 4. Le Roux Roets, 3. Khutha Mchunu, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Mzamo Majola, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Thembelani Bholi, 20. Mpilo Gumede, 21. Cameron Wright, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Jeremy Ward.