Ebersohn's boot clinches Loftus thriller
Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:11
Ashley Johnson: Great link for the Cheetahs. (c) Gallo
The Cheetahs, despite trailing the entire match, scored a 25-23 win over the Blue Bulls in a thrilling Currie Cup match in Pretoria on Saturday.
In a game that was a great advert for all that is good in South African rugby, it was young Sias Ebersohn who scored the winning points deep into injury-time.
While replacement hooker Skipper Badenhorst scored the crucial try, which tied the scores, it was Ebersohn - twin brother of starting centre Robert - who secured the win with a pressure kick from the touchline.
The game was played at a fast and furious pace, with the physical exchanges at times bordering on the brutal - especially among the forwards.
However, the defining aspect of the game was the Bulls' defence - which can be best encapsulated in the fact that the Cheetahs scored one try only... and that deep into injury-time.
The Bulls scored two wonderful tries of their own, but the Cheetahs' fighting spirit saw them stay in the hunt and clinch it in the end.
Both teams were fond of using their forwards to get over the advantage line, but the Bulls' backs looked to be the more creative and effective of the two sets. The set-pieces were also fiercely contested by both teams, as was the breakdown.
The Bulls had the first opportunity for points - a penalty set up by a great front-on tackle from Stephan Dippenaar on a rampaging Ashley Johnson. Jacques-Louis Potgieter made no mistake with the kick at goal and the Bulls had a 3-0 lead after just two minutes.
Despite losing star fetcher Deon Stegmann to a serious-looking knee injury - when he limped off after securing a penalty - the Bulls also scored the game's first try. It was set up by a rampaging maul from a line-out and few quick phases, before flank Derick Kuün went over for the score. Potgieter added thymes conversion and it was 10-0 in as many minutes.
The Cheetahs finally opened their account in the 13th minute - a Louis Strydom penalty, after the Bulls did not roll away quickly enough in the tackle.
Strydom had a chance to chip away at the lead in the 24th minute, another penalty at the breakdown, but he was wide of the mark.
A high tackle by Robert Ebersohn on rival Stephan Dippenaar in the 33rd minute presented Potgieter with a shot at goal and he maintained his 100 percent record on the day to make the lead 13-3.
Strydom got one back, a penalty for Bulls players Ruan Snyman and Gerrit-Jan van Velze not rolling away in the tackle, but almost immediately Potgieter cancelled that penalty out with one of his own, after Adriaan Strauss was penalised for hands in at a ruck - 16-6 after 38 minutes.
Right on the stroke of half-time Strydom had another chance to close the gap, after Werner Kruger was deemed not to have released in the tackle, and he made no mistake - 9-16 at the break.
The Cheetahs had the first shot at points in the second half, another penalty at the breakdown, and Strydom narrowed the gap to 12-16.
With the final quarter approaching, the Cheetahs had built up a head of steam and went over the Bulls' line in a heap of bodies. However, the TMO ruled that it was inconclusive and they went back for a five-metre scrum. From there, prop Coenie Oosthuizen was again close and again the TMO's call went against the Cheetahs - this time he called it 'grounded short'.
The next scrum became a penalty, from where the tap-'n-go became another penalty and an official warning to the Bulls. Strydom made it a one-point game - 15-16.
The Bulls hit back hard from the restart and won a penalty, but Potgieter missed his first kick at goal and the score stayed unchanged.
They now launched a series of furious raids on the Cheetahs line and after what seemed ages - with numerous forward rushes propelled by the defending team - a quick skip pass sent centre Stefan Watermeyer over for the Bulls' second try. Potgieter's conversion made it 23-16, with 14 minutes to go.
The Cheetahs launched a number of determined raids on the Bulls' line, but on at least two occasions - with a try seeming inevitable - they handed the ball back to the Bulls, once with a penalty for a high tackle and the second time through a knock-on.
With just over three minutes on the clock the Cheetahs won a penalty right in front and replacement Sias Ebersohn slotted it to narrow the gap to five points (18-23) and gave the visitors a chance of a late winner.
And they came back with a vengeance, taking the ball through numerous phases well into extra-time and playing through several penalty advantages. It was replacement hooker Skipper Badenhorst that went over in the left corner, after the ball was swung wide. It left young Sias Ebersohn with the match-winning kick - which he duly slotted, the Cheetahs winning 25-23.
Man of the match: First there was prop Dean Greying, who matched rival Coenie Oosthuizen stride-for-stride in the ball carrying and physical exchanges. The Bulls' centre pairing of Stephan Dippenaar and Stefan Watermeyer showed plenty of promise, while flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter displayed positional play and often dictated the terms of the game. For the Cheetahs there was, of course, prop Oosthuizen - who played like a loose forward. No.8 Ashley Johnson also showed really good energy and was strong on the run. However, we are giving our award to Cheetahs captain Juan Smith - who showed his determination to get back into the Bok set-up with a standout performance on defence and in carrying the ball, not to mention his value as a line-out forward.
The scorers:
For the Blue Bulls:
Tries: Kuün, Watermeyer
Cons: Potgieter 2
Pens: Potgieter 3
For the Free State Cheetahs:
Try:
Badenhorst
Con: S Ebersohn
Pens: Strydom 5, S Ebersohn
The teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Derick Kuün, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Fudge Mabeta, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Juandré Kruger, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Danie Faasen, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Hayden Groepes.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corné Uys, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 JW Jonker.
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Christie du Preez
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
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