The Toyota Cheetahs got their 2025 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division back on track with a convincing 42-25 victory on Friday evening, after leading 28-13 at the halftime break.
In a fast-paced first half, it was the scrumhalves who shone for both sides. The Pumas scrumhalve Ross Braude opened the scoring after fifteen minutes of play, whereafter the Cheetahs' scrumhalve Jandre Nel added his name three times on the scorecard to extend the Cheetahs' lead to 21-06 after thirty minutes of play.
Two minutes later, Ross Braude added his second try on the scoresheet. However, it was the bonus-point try for the Cheetahs by Neels Volschenk who gave them a 28-13 lead after forty-five minutes of all-out action in the first half.
The Cheetahs started the second half intent on running a tired-looking Pumas off their feet. Carel-Jan Coetzee scored after eight minutes of play after the Cheetahs set up camp in the Pumas 22. Swanepoel added the extra two points to extend the Cheetahs' lead to 35-13.
The Pumas struck back almost immediately, when Pumas centre Sango Xamlashle scored a superb team try to trail 18-35 after twenty minutes of play in the second half.
With five minutes still to playf play, the Pumas' Wian van Niekerk scored their fourth and bonus-point try to cut the Cheetahs' lead to 35-25.
However, with three minutes still to play, Jandre Nel scored his fourth try with a great little snipe from behind a ruck. Cohen Jasper converted to secure a 42-25 win.
Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Carel-jan Coetzee, Neels Volschenk, Jandre Nel (4). Conversions: Tiaan Swanepoel (5), Cohen Jasper.
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Ross Braude (2), Sango Xamlashe, Wian Van Niekerk. Conversion: Danrich Visagie. Penalty: Danrich Visagie.
Teams
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Banie Britz, 13 Marco Janse van Vuuren, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Gideon van der Merwe, 6 Sasko Ndlovu , 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Pierre Uys Vuuren, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen , 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Franco Smith, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.
Airlink Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lindi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashle, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude (vice-captain), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Ntsika Fisante, 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Heinz Bertram, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwau, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 JJ Scheepers, 20 Andre Fouché, 21 Ruwald van der Merwe, 22 Russwell Fredericks, 23 Stefan Coetzee.
