The Sunday News
Bloemfontein — The Cheetahs have achieved only their second victory in Super Rugby this year, beating the Stormers comprehensively 35-22 in the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein yesterday.
Another local side, the Bulls, were the only scalp the Cheetahs could claim to date, but Naka Drotske’s men showed that they still have some kick left in them for the remainder of the season.
The Stormers started at a frantic pace and put the Cheetahs under immense pressure early on. It paid dividends as early as the fourth minute when a solid scrum five metres from the hosts’ goal line resulted in a try for flank Nizaam Carr, that flyhalf Peter Grant converted.
That put the Cheetahs on the back foot and the pressure applied resulted in ill discipline by the hosts.
Grant kicked a penalty in the 12th minute after the Cheetahs infringed, giving the Stormers a handy early lead of 10-0.
The Cheetahs finally got on board after a helter skelter first 15 minutes, when play maker Willie le Roux used the advantage and gave a cross kick that fullback Hennie Daniller caught and rounded off for the hosts first try. Flyhalf Elgar Watts missed with the conversion, but suddenly the Cheetahs were back in the game.
In the space of the following two minutes the hosts scored again, this time after a good snipe by Le Roux lead to a break by flank Heinrich Brssow. The latter handed off to centre Rayno Benjamin, timing the pass brilliantly to help draw the scores level at 10 points each.
The Cheetahs took the lead for the first time when Watts kicked a penalty in the 27th minute, being successful after missing the two earlier conversions. In the remaining 10 minutes before the break, both sides produced some exciting running rugby.
It was the hosts that fared better however, with Springbok Le Roux dotting down in the 33rd minute and Watts converting to give the Cheetahs a comfortable lead of 10 points, going into half-time with a score of 20-10.
The pressure applied by the Cheetahs, especially in the scrums, led to several penalties against the Stormers and Watts kicked another attempt in the 56th minute to open up the lead to 13 points for the Cheetahs.
The Stormers nearly closed the gap via a try by centre Juan de Jongh, but it was disallowed because of obstruction by the visitors. They did get that elusive five pointer however when Super Rugby debutante Devon Williams rounded off after a good scrum by the Stormers.
Grant missed the conversion.
Replacement wing Cornal Hendricks then scored the bonus point try for the Cheetahs after turnover possession and a run of nearly 80 metres. Soon after, Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane got his five pointer for the hosts. It was converted by Watts.
Stormers captain and centre Jean de Villiers scored a consolation try near the end, but it still meant that the visitors returned home empty handed with regards to bonus points. — Sapa.
