Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
Defending Carling Currie Cup champions, the Toyota Cheetahs arrived in Mbombela still in the hunt their first win in the competition this season. Hosts Phakisa Pumas came out fighting to lead 12-7 at the break. However, the Cheetahs came out in the second half to score 21 unanswered points and seal a 35-31 win.
The Pumas may claim that points lost (10) due to bad goal kicking cost them the game. However, the display by the Cheetahs in the second half make them the deserved winners.
09:52 Simon Westraadt scored the Pumas first try of the game. The Pumas started the game like a house on fire and the try was a just reward for their dominance. (05-00)
20:00 The Cheetahs in control for the second 10 minutes of the game. However, the Pumas kept their lead on the scoreboard with 5-0 as they were in control on the ground.
26:36 The Cheetahs' William Small-Smith scored their first try of the match to give the Cheetahs the lead for the first time of the game. (5-7)
31:01 Le Roux Routs score off a maul to give the lead back to the Pumas, (12-07)
Although the Pumas lead at halftime the Cheetahs could not convert scoring opportunities into points. The Pumas was brilliant on the ground and in defence.
44:17 Daniel Maartens scored a forward try to increase the Pumas lead. (17-07)
51:12 Andisa Ntsila scored the Cheetahs second try after a lineout maul. (17-14).
58:35 Andisa Ntsila scored the Cheetahs third try after a lineout maul. (17-21).
The Cheetahs change in tactics in the second half brought new energy to the men from Bloemfontein. The Cheetahs put pressure via kicks on the Pumas and were quick to exploit the mistakes by the Pumas.
64:15 Louis vd Westhuizen scored the Cheetahs' fourth try. A seventh penalty by the Pumas leads to a predictable outcome. A lineout maul with the Cheetahs' forwards that strolled over the scoreline. (17-28)
73:13 Willie Engelbrecht's' return after a yellow card saw him score the Pumas fourth try to make it a four-point game. (24-28)
76:44 Tiaan Meyer sealed the win for the Cheetahs with a long-distance try. (24-35)
81:44 AJ Le Roux scored the Pumas fifth try to secure the Pumas a bonus point for losing with seven points or less (31-35)
Scorers:
Phakisa Pumas: Tries: Simon Westraadt, Le Roux Roets, Daniel Maartens, Willie Engelbrecht, AJ Le Roux. Conversions: Devon Williams, Ginter Smuts (2)
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: William Small-Smith, Andisa Ntsila (2), Louis vd Westhuizen, Tiaan Meyer. Conversion: Frans Steyn (5).
Teams:
Phakisa Pumas:15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Etienne Taljaard, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 van der Bank, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Devon Williams, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Valentyn, 18 Wikus Groenewald, 19 Valentyn, 20 Ewart Potgieter, 21 Ginter Smuts, 22 Tiaan Botes, 23 Maritz.
Toyota Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Dries Swanepoel 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 William Small-Smith, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner (captain), 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Rhyno Smith.