Saturday’s second fixture saw the Toyota Cheetahs beat the Tafel Lager Griquas in a Central Derby with 28-09. It was another enthralling encounter between the two neighbouring teams with the Cheetahs who scored 15 unanswered points in the last 20 minutes of the match to seal the victory.
The win moved the Cheetahs to the fourth position on the championship log while the Griquas who failed to win any games in the Vodacom Super Rugby Championships ended last.
03:43 Andisa Ntsila scored the Cheetahs first try after the Griquas had no cover at the back to control a clever kick by the Cheetahs. (5-0)
12:37 Tinus de Beer converted a penalty for the Griquas who dominated play up to that stage. (5-3)
15:09 Tian Schoeman added three points to the Cheetahs score. (8-3)
The Griquas dominated the early parts of the match while the Cheetahs clawed their way back into the game. With 20 minutes left of the first half, both teams fought for control in an even match.
23:09 Penalty converted by Tinus de Beer to narrow the gap to just two points in favour of the Cheetahs (8-6)
35:35 The Griquas in the lead for the first time of the match after a third converted penalty by Tinus de Beer. (8-9)
The halftime hooter sounded with the Griquas still in the lead with 9-8. Both teams tried their utmost to give the ball air but the wet conditions made it extremely difficult. The match is balanced on a knife's edge with forty minutes to go.
48:35 A period of constant pressure by the Cheetahs ended in a try by Howard Mnsisi to take back the lead from the Griquas. (13-9)
With 20 minutes left of the match, the Cheetahs are in "control" of the game with the mistakes by the Griquas costing the Griquas momentum as well as territory.
61:25 Tian Schoeman converted his second penalty to extend the Cheetahs lead. (16-9)
73:15 Ruben de Haas scored the Cheetahs' third try of the match after the Griquas made several mistakes in the control of the ball in their red zone. (21-9)
79:05 Jeandré Rudolph scored the Cheetahs' bonus point try to seal the victory. (28-9)
The final score not a true reflection of the match, maybe rather a true reflection of the last 20 minutes.
Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Andisa Ntsila, Howard Mnisi, Ruben de Haas, Jeandré Rudolph. Conversions: Reinhardt Fortuin. Penalties: Tian Schoeman (2).
Tafel Lager Griquas: Penalties: Tinus de Beer (3)
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mahoje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Aidon Davids, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 William Small-Smith.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Carl Els, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Mox Mxoli. Replacements (from): Monde Hadebe, Andrew Beerwinkel, Madot Mabokela, Ewan Coetzee, CJ Velleman, Theo Maree, André Swarts, Daniel Kasende, Bandisa Ndlovu, Sibabalo Qoma, Ashlon Davids.