• Fixtures
• Results

Cheetahs win with tries

Sat, 01 May 2010 17:06

Leader of the revival: Cheetahs captain Juan Smith

The Cheetahs enjoyed their third victory in the Super 14 when they beat the Blues 36-32 in Bloemfontein on Saturday, scoring their first bonus point for tries and ending any hope the Blues may have had of reaching the semifinals.

There were two occasions when the Cheetahs looked as if they were what the Cheetahs have been too often - a leaking, irresolute defence but for most of the match they were determined and given half a chance they scored tries. In 11 rounds this year they scored 15 tries. Now in one afternoon they scored five.

The Blues, who would have liked so much more, came away with two bonus points - one for being a near loser and one for four tries. That said the Blues did not really seem all that intent on doing better. They played in fits and starts and at times looked decidedly average. The Cheetahs, apart from the lapses that led to tries by Isaia Toeava and Anthony Tuitavake looked more determined than they have been - and a lot of it had to do with massive Juan Smith who played his heart out for 80 minutes and did the tackling of 14 others. He is such a worthy player. And he scored the first try.

The Cheetahs kicked off, grabbed the ball and attacked with Sarel Pretorius, Ryno Barnes and Frans Viljoen attacking the line. Back the ball came to Smith who stepped inside Stephen Brett, handed off Filo Paulo and scored near the posts. 7-0 after 2 minutes.

Chunky Benson Stanley ran straight ahead. There was nothing special about the way he ran but he ran past three Cheetahs and there was Toeava surfing over in the right corner. Brett converted. 7-7 after 7 minutes. The Cheetahs did not do this again for the next 69 minutes.

The scrums were not a problem. In fact, miraculously, there were no resets but there were two penalties, one against each side. When Tony Woodcock was penalised, Naas Olivier made the score 10-7 and right on half-time  Cobus Calldo was penalised and Brett made the score 22-13 - to the Cheetahs that is.

The Blues looked promising when strong Paul Williams came striding back on the counter and the Blues then won a Cheetah line-out but their hands  failed. Then the Cheetahs won a turnover and Smith set Pretorius running and only a desperate tackle by Jerome Kaino knocked him out at the cornerpost and prevented a try.

Robert Ebersohn won a turnover at a tackle and the Cheetahs attacked. Smith sidefooted a perfect grubber into the Blues in-goal and there the ball stood up for Jongi Nokwe for an easy-looking try. 15-7 after 21 minutes.

Barend Pieterse was penalised at a tackle and Brett goaled. 15-10 after 25 minutes.

From the kick-off the Cheetahs attacked. The Blues were penalised and Pretorius tapped, darted and sent Bjorn Basson running free for a try. Olivier converted. 22-10 after 27 minutes.

The Cheetahs went through several phases as they attacked again but Frans Viljoen lost the ball.

Then on half-time Brett goaled to make the score 22-13 at the break.

It is often said that the team which scores first after the break wins the match. The Blues scored first and then second and took the lead. It looked as if they would win the match.

Their first try came when Toeava broke through Ebersohn and gave to Rene Ranger who punched the air with joy as he scored. 22-20 after 42 minutes.

The Blues went through many phases with Toeava and Paulo close and then Albie Mathewson was over but, as Smith and Coenie Oosthuizen grabbed the little man the television match official could not say for sure that the ball had been grounded for a try. Not that it mattered, for it produced a five-metre scrum to the Blues. Viliami Ma'afu picked up at the base and gave to Mathewson who went inside Riaan Viljoen and beyond Pretorius to score under the posts. 27-22 after 56 minutes. The Blues led.

But the Cheetahs got on the attack and, on advantage, burly Frans Viljoen forced his way through a halfgap and gave to young Phillip van der Walt, who was on as a temporary replacement for bleeding Hendro Scholtz, and in a tackle Van der Walt stretched out to score under the crossbar. Having done that he went off so that Scholtz could return. His stay was short but profitable. Meyer Bosman converted and the Cheetahs were back in front, 29-27.

The Blues attacked hither and thither, through 14 phases and then they lost the ball. Barnes picked it up and hoofed it down the field. It flew through empty acres and rolled on and on with big Waltie Vermeulen, a lock, straining in pursuit. He got to the ball just ahead of Danwel Demas, picked up and scored. Bosman converted and the Cheetahs led 36-27, forcing the Blues to score at least twice to win.

They scored once when prop John Afoa made like a centre, breaking past Van der Walt and Oosthuizen and then swerving past Hennie Daniller before giving to Tuitavake who scored.

There were still four minutes to play and, try though they might, the Blues did not score.

Man of the Match:  There was lively, exciting, energetic Sarel Pretorius but just edging him out for his noble contribution to the game is Juan Smith, a giant of a player.

Scorers:

For Cheetahs:
Tries: Smith, Nokwe, Basson, Van der Walt, Vermeulen
Cons: Olivier 2, Bosman 2
Pen:  Olivier

For Blues:
Tries: Toeava, Ranger, Mathewson, Tuitavake
Cons: Brett 3
Pens: Brett 2

Teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman (vice-captain), 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 Cobus Caldo, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Phillip van der Walt, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Riaan Viljoen, 22 Danwel Demas.

Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Tom Chamberlain, 6 Jerome Kaino (captain), 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Mailau/ Keven Mealamu, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Anthony Tuitavake.

Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

Contact Us | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Advertising

This site requires cookies to be enabled!

Send Feedback on Rugby365!

News | Tournaments | SA Schools

Copyright © 2009 Primedia Online. All rights reserved. Developed by Primedia Online