Cheetahs lower WP colours ... again
Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:21
Try time: Jongi Nokwe scores for the Cheetahs. (c) Gallo
The Free State Cheetahs handed Western Province their second successive defeat of the season, a nailbiting 29-24 win by the visitors at Newlands on Friday.
Although Province outscored the Cheetahs by three tries to two, they still suffered their first home defeat of the season - to go with last week's loss in Durban.
The result sees the Cheetahs move into third place on the standings, following the BLue Bulls' shock loss against the Pumas.
It's a strange old season this is, Master Jack.
South African teams topped the Super 14 almost comfortably.
The Springboks are bottom of the Tri-Nations.
The Stormers and the Bulls ended top of the Super 14 log, playing in the Final.
Now Western Province have lost two matches in a row and the Bulls, fortunate winners over Griquas last week, were beaten by the Pumas this wheek.
It's a strange, strange season all right. There is almost an air of unreality amidst the realities, and the reality for Western Province is that their unbeaten record at home is shattered - an oldfashioned record flung against a rock.
The Free State Cheetahs, who have traditionally been more than a match for Western Province came to Newlands on a chilly Friday night and won.
They may even have deserved it as the side with more ideas, greater intensity and the snapper up of little chances. Western Province scored three tries to two. The Western Province tries all started with brawny mauls Free State's tries had skill of a different kind - running, passing skill.
There was a sombre start to the day as the crowd stood in silence for the 10 schoolchildren killed a level-crossing accident. It ended on a sombre note as well as the crowd trudged away from Newlands, weighed down by defeat.
All the tries were scored in the second half though Western Province came within an ace of scoring one near the start.
Dewaldt Duvenage kicked high down the left and Gio Aplon chased. Louis Strydom got to the ball first but with Aplon in close attendance he stepped into touch. Aplon grabbed the ball and threw in quickly to Duvenage who passed it back to Aplon who tiptoed down the touch-line managed to get past Strydom's attempted tackle, stumbling, as he headed for the corner and over.
The matter was referred to the television match official who detected that a sliver of Aplon's right heel had touched a sliver of the touch-line.
Free State now had their best passage of play in the match as they dominated possession and drove with intensity at Western Province. Oddly enough they were far less dominant in the second half when they scored their tries.
After Francois Louw had been penalised at a tackle, Strydom made it 3-0 and then almost created a try out of very little. He ran from his own 22, chipped, gathered and had support but a forward pass destroyed the opportunity. Willem de Waal kicked a penalty and Strydom another. 6-3 after 19 minutes.
Ashley Johnson knocked on the kick-off, Nick Koster gathered and Western Province were attacking, but the defence held. At this stage Tiaan Liebenberg left the match with an injury, replaced by Deon Fourie.,
Hennie Daniller, who was the Free State's main attacking weapon, grubbered but JJ Engelbrecht, covering from his wing, saved but the scoring came from two Strydom penalties. It was almost weird when De Waal missed a relatively easy penalty.
Western Province started the second half with great energy and zeal. They went through many phases without seeming to make headway till Koster went on a burst and the ball came back to Adriaan Fondse who forced his way over for a try. 12-10.
Western Province attacked again but on a rare foray into Western Province territory Louw was penalised and Western Province were marched on 10 metres, giving Strydom an easy kick. 15-10.
Then Free State went to their winning score with two tries in short succession.
From a set scrum Meyer Bosman broke through De Waal's outstretched arm and raced down the middle of the field, passing inside to Kabamba Floors who raced over for the try. 22-10.
Western Province won a line-out, mauled and Free State scored. From the maul Western Province went wide to their left but Frkkie Welsh could not hold onto a fierce torpedo of a pass and knocked on. Free State pounced. Bosman got it going, several others handled till Jongi Nokwe raced over for the try. 29-10.
Then it was Western Province's turn to get two tries, both maul creations for the maul was Western Province's best weapon. After a line-out from a penalty they moved a maul some 17 metres down the field, bashed at the line and then went wide right to Aplon who danced over,
Soon after this Aplon collected a kick well inside his own half and set off on one of his scurrying runs - a chap, a catch and more running to take his team to the Free State line. It was the golden moment of the match.
A penalty gave Western Province a five-metre line-out which they mauled and Duane Vermeulen was strong enough to batter over. 29-24 with four minutes to play.
Nokwe leapt high to catch the kick--off and set the Free State attacking. Western Province tried to run for all their worth but Free State gave them no leeway and eventually one a turnover to kick the ball dead.
Man of the Match: Good as Meyer Bosman was, our choice of Man of the Match was Hennie Daniller, attacking and defending like a hero.
The scorers:
For Western Province:
Tries: Fondse, Aplon, Vermeulen
Cons: De Waal 3
Pen: De Waal
For the Free State Cheetahs:
Tries: Floors, Nokwe
Cons: Strydom 2
Pens:
Strydom 5
Teams:
Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjies, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Nick Koster, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (captain), 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JD Moller, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Conrad Hoffman, 21 Lionel Cronje, 22 Morgan Newman.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 WP Nel, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse,
21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Riaan Smit.
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant referees: Rasta Rashivenga, Eugenia Daniels
TMO: JC Fortuin
By Paul Dobson, at Newlands
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