The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Fidelity ADT Lions in Bloemfontein on Saturday and were outplayed by their visitors 33-26 in Currie Cup Round 10.
The Fidelity ADT Lions controlled 80 percent of the possession and 70 percent of the territory while poor discipline, missed tackles and turnovers cost the Toyota Cheetahs for most of the first half except during the dying minutes. The hosts' ill-discipline continued for most of the second half resulting in Sanele Nohamba converting four penalties which was at the end of the day the difference between winning and losing.
The Fidelity ADT Lions started like a house on fire and Rynhardt Jonker scored the first try, following a line-out and a few phases.
Sanele Nohamba converted two penalties during the next 20 minutes for a 13-00.
Edwill van der Merwe controlled a brilliant Morné van den Berg chip-kick for the Fidelity ADT Lions' second try to lead 20-00 with five of minutes left to play in the first half.
George Cronjé eventually opened the Toyota Cheetahs' account on the scoreboard with seconds to go in the first half when he bulldozed over the tryline of the visitors.
The Fidelity ADT Lions led 20-07 at the halftime break.
George Cronjé scored his second try after only two minutes in the second half following brilliant interplay by the forwards of the Cheetahs.
Sanele Nohamba converted a third penalty before JC Pretorius scored the Fidelity ADT Lions' third try of the match. Pretorius finished off a period of brilliant interplay by Fidelity ADT Lions, to lead 30-14 after twenty minutes of play in the second half.
The Fidelity ADT Lions stretched their lead to 33-14 with a fourth penalty by Sanele Nohamba
Two tries during the last five minutes from Sibabalo Qoma and Marnus van der Merwe secured two valuable log points for the Toyota Cheetahs, one for four tries and a second for losing by seven points of less.
The Fidelity ADT Lions secured a well-deserved 33-26 against a Toyota Cheetahs who's ill-discipline resulted in more than several penalties.
Scorers
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: George Cronjé (2), Sibabalo Qoma, Marnus Van der Merwe. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (2), George Lourens.
Fidelity ADT Lions: Tries: Rynhardt Jonker, Edwill Van der Merwe, JC Pretorius. Conversions: Sanele Nohamba (3). Penalties: Sanele Nohamba (4)
Teams
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 George Cronjé, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Nqobisizwe Mxoli, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Friedle Olivier, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Evardi Boshoff, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 George Lourens.
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Johannes Pretorius, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (c), 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger. Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Stean Pienaar, 23 Andries Coetzee.