The first-placed Toyota Cheetahs secured their sixth straight win of the 2022 Carling Currie Cup campaign after beating the Cell C Sharks in Durban with 29-15 to remain unbeaten in the 2022 Carling Currie Cup competition.
The Cheetahs dominated the first 40 minutes of the game and opened up a well-deserved lead of 16-03, with 7 minutes left to go before the halftime break. The Sharks scored a much-needed try minutes before the halftime break to give some respectability to their onfield performance.
The second half and the game's result was still in the balance before the Cheetahs scored two tries within 5 minutes of each other. This gave the Cheetahs a match-winning buffer to maintain their unbeaten status in the 2022 Carling Currie Cup competition
09:47 Ruan Pienaar opened the account of the Cheetahs on the scoreboard with a converted penalty. (00-03)
12:28 Frans Steyn converted a long-distance penalty to extend the Cheetahs' lead. (00-06)
20:35 Frans Steyn converted his 2nd long-distance penalty for the Cheetahs. (00-09)
20:00 Both teams struggled in the extremely wet conditions in Durban to play constructive rugby. The Cheetahs were happy to earn scrum penalties and convert them into converted penalties to lead 09-00 after the first quarter.
22:28 Andisa Ntsila scored the Cheetahs' first try after some sublime footwork by the young man. (00-16)
32:54 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla converted a penalty for the Sharks to open their account on the scoreboard. (03-16)
38:04 Fez Mbatha scored the Sharks' first try from the back of a 5m lineout-maul (10-16)
40:00 The Cheetahs dominated the first 40 minutes and opened up a well-deserved lead of 16-03 with 7 minutes left to go before the halftime break. The Sharks scored a much-needed try minutes before the halftime break to give some respectability to their onfield performance.
47:24 Conraad van Vuuren (Cheetahs) was sent off with a yellow card.
48:52 Dan Jooste scored the Sharks' second try from the back of a 5m lineout-maul. (15-16)
53:11 Ruan Pienaar converted a penalty for the Cheetahs. (15-19)
60:00 The Cell Sharks started the second half as they ended the first with a try from a 5m driving maul. The Sharks continued to increase their dominance as the third quarter continued with the visitors' penalty count steadily increasing.
64:23 Louis van der Westhuizen scored the Cheetahs' second try from the back of a 5m lineout-maul. (15-24)
69:09 Gideon van der Merwe collected his own kick forward to score the Cheetahs' 3rd try. (15-29)
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Fez Mbatha, Dan Jooste. Conversions: Joaquin Diaz Bonilla. Penalty: Joaquin Diaz Bonilla.
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Andisa Ntsila, Louis van der Westhuizen, Gideon van der Merwe. Conversion: Ruan Pienaar. Penalties: Ruan Pienaar (2), Frans Steyn (2).
Teams
Cell C Sharks: 15. Jordan Chait, 14. Yaw Penxe, 13. Jeremy Ward, 12. Ethan Fisher, 11. Curwin Gertse, 10. Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9. Cameron Wright, 8. Celimpilo Gumede, 7. Thembelani Bholi, 6. James Venter (c), 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Emile van Heerden, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1. Dian Bleuler. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Braam Reyneke, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Jeandre Labusagne, 20. Dylan Richardson, 21. OJ Noha, 22. Sanele Nohamba, 23. Lloyd Koster
Toyota Cheetahs: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Daniel Kasende, 13. David Brits, 12. Frans Steyn, 11. Cohen Jasper, 10. Siya Masuku, 9. Ruan Pienaar (c), 8. Mihlali Mosi, 7. Andisa Ntsila, 6. Gideon van der Merwe, 5. Victor Sekekete, 4. Aidon Davis, 3. Marne Coetzee, 2. Marnus van der Merwe, 1. Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16. Louis van der Westhuizen, 17. Alulutho Tshakweni, 18. Conraad van Vuuren, 19. Ockie Barnard, 20. Jeandré Rudolph, 21. Rewan Kruger, 22. Reinhardt Fortuin, 23. Robert Ebersohn.