The Toyota Cheetahs were made to work hard for their third win in the Toyota Challenge against the Western Force in Australia. The Toyota Cheetahs led 21-08 at the halftome break, however, ill discipline reduced them to thirteen players during the last twenty minutes. The Toyota Cheetahs eventually hung on to win 32-22.
The Western Force started the match confidently, however, it was Jeandre Rudolph who controlled a loose ball from their lineout and ran thirty-odd meters to score the Cheetah's first try after seven minutes of play in the first half.
Twelve minutes later Marnus van der Merwe scored the Toyota Cheetahs' second try, from the back of a 5m lineout maul. The Toyota Cheetahs were in control at this stage and led 14-00.
Bayley Kuenzle converted a penalty for the Western Force to reduce the Toyota Cheetahs' lead. The Western Force trailing 03-14 after twenty-two minutes of play in the first half.
Marnus van der Merwe scored his second try from the back of a 5m lineout-maul with twelve minutes left to play in the first half. The Toyota Cheetahs' maul was proving to be too much for the Western Force.
Five minutes later Harry Potter scored the Western Force's first try. The Western Force spread the ball wide and eventually, the gaps opened up against the fourteen-man Toyota Cheetahs. The Western Force trailed 08-21 at the halftime break.
Daniel Kasende followed up a kick to score the Toyota Cheetahs' fourth try to lead 26-08 after sixteen minutes of play in the second half. The Toyota Cheetahs were pinned in their 22m when they pounced on a handling mistake by the Western Force to score a 90m try.
Rewita Biddle scored in the corner after great hands by the Western Force from a collapsed maul. The Western Force trailed 15-26 against a thirteen-man Toyota Cheetahs, however, the Toyota Cheetahs replied almost immediately with a Ruan Pienaar converted penalty.
Tom Horton crashed over from a 5m lineout-maul with less than ten minutes to play to trail 22-29. The Western Force is closing in on the thirteen-man Toyota Cheetahs' lead with time running out for the home team.
However, the Toyota Cheetahs started to attack and earned a second Ruan Pienaar converted penalty, to lead 32-22 with four minutes to play.
Scorers:
Western Force: Tries: Harry Potter, Rewita Biddle, Tom Horton. Conversions: Bayley Kuenzle (2). Penalty: Bayley Kuenzle.
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Jeandre Rudolph, Marnus van der Merwe (2), Daniel Kasende . Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (3). Penalties: Ruan Pienaar (2).
Teams
Western Force: 15 Harry Potter, 14 George Poolman, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 Max Burey (c), 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Jeremy Williams (co-captain), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Faamanu Kalolo, 5 Lopeti Faifua, 4 Jackson Pugh, 3 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Marley Pearce. Replacements – from 16 Albert Alcock, 17 Angus Wagner, 18 Regi Churchward, 19 Reagan Leslie, 21 Titi Nofogatotoa, 22 Ian Prior, 23 Reesjan Pasitoa, 24 Rewita Biddle.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Laurence Victor, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 6 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 George Lourens, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Robert Ebersohn.
