Toyota Cheetahs Secure Win Over Zebre Parma After Time Was Up

 

Toyota Cheetahs beat Zebre Parma 22-18 in a Round 3 EPCR Challenge Cup match. Zebre led with one point since four minutes after the start of the second half, until Cohen Jasper scored in the corner to edge Zebre. 

Zebre Parma benefitted from two early mistakes made by the Cheetahs from the kickoff and Thomas Dominguez converted a penalty, however, Micheal Annies attacked from the kickoff and scored the Cheetahs' first try, showcasing individual brilliance by the fullback. Ethan Wentzel converted for the Cheetahs to lead 07-03 after three minutes of play.

The rest of the first quarter was error-ridden, with both sides failing to add any points to the scoreboard.

A dropped pass by the Cheetahs on the attack was controlled by Zebre and Simone Gesi scored Zebre's first try to retake the lead 08-07 after twenty-three minutes of play in the first half.

Ethan Wentzel converted his third attempt of a penalty to retake the lead for the Cheetahs by 10-08 after twenty seen minutes of play in the first half.

Thomas Dominguez replied almost immediately for Zebre.

With five minutes to play, Ethan Wentzel collected his own chip and offloaded to Jeandré Rudolph who scored the Cheetahs' first try of the match. Wentzel converted to extend the Cheetahs' lead to 17-11, which was the halftime score.

Zebre struck early in the second half when hooker Tommaso di Bartolomeo scored off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul. Thomas Dominguez converted to edge Zebre back into the lead.

The rest of the second half was "disappointing" with both teams continuing to make unforced errors.

With time up on the clock the Cheetahs threw the kitchen sink at Zebre and eventually Cohan Jasper found space out wide to score the winning try. The Cheetahs won 22-18.

Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Micheal Annies, Jeandré Rudolph, Cohen Jasper. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (2). Penalty: Ethan Wentzel.
Zebre Parma: Tries: Simone Gesi, Tommaso di Bartolomeo. Conversion: Thomas Dominguez. Penalties: Thomas Dominguez (2)

Teams

Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Micheal Annies, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Pieter Janse van Vuuren, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Hencus van Wyk. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Pierre-Raymond Uys, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Litha Nkula, 22 Jandre Nel, 23 Cohen Jasper.

Zebre Parma: 15 Giacomo da Re, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Fetuli Paea, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Thomas Dominguez, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Leonardo Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti (c). Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Rusiate Nasove, 20 Bautista Stavile Bravin, 21 Ratko Jelic, 22 Damiano Mazza, 23 Scott Gregory.