Cheetahs taught a Force(ful) lesson

ROUND ONE WRAP: The Cheetahs were given a harsh reality check when an impressive Western Force team dismissed them 38-24 in the opening Round of the Challenge Series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

Harry Potter starred with two tries, as the Force opened their three-game South Africa tour with an impressive victory.

Leading 25-7 at half-time and 32-12 going into the final quarter, it was only two late tries that gave the home team’s score some respectability.

It is not the kind of form they want to take into their European campaign, when the Challenge Cup gets underway in December.

At least the Cheetahs have two more Challenge matches, against the Griffons and Emerging Ireland, to rectify matters.

The Force scored four tries, with midfielder Potter dotting twice before the break.

Off-season signing Nic Dolly and back row forward Will Harris also scored tries as the Force secured a rare road win in cool conditions.

The Force were good value for the win, with four penalties – two each from Max Burey and Coby Miln – underlined the territory advantage.

The Force were dominant from line-outs, but sometimes shaky at the scrum.

However, the visitors looked good with the ball in hand, led by playmakers Burey and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, while replacement flyhalf Miln impressed in the second half, almost scoring only to be denied by a forward pass in the build-up.

The victory is the perfect start to the Force’s three-game tour, with the side next up against Emerging Ireland on Sunday.

“I am proud of the efforts of the boys,” Force captain Reed Prinsep said.

“I thought we set it up in the first half.

“In the second half, the Cheetahs came back out, scored first and put us under pressure but our ability to overcome that was something I’m proud of.”

* In the early match, Emerging Ireland started their South Africa tour with a 36-24 win over the Pumas, getting a good test from the Mbombela-based franchise in sunny Bloemfontein.

Coach Simon Easterby used all 23 players, including teenage prop Alex Usanov, as Emerging Ireland overcame the Pumas for the second time – having won 28-24 at the same venue two years ago.

Zac Ward’s slick 14th-minute finish from the left wing, coupled with close-range efforts from Darragh Murray and Cormac Izuchukwu, gave Easterby’s side a 19-7 half-time lead.

Sixth-place finishers in the Currie Cup, the Pumas showed the benefit of that recent game-time together, threatening through their forwards before wing Lundi Msenge was released for the try-line in the 32nd minute.

The teams shared out six tries during a pacy second half, with hookers Stephen Smyth and Gus McCarthy both crossing for the tourists who were also awarded a penalty try.

Tino Swanepoel (two) and Eduan Swart hit back for the Pumas.

The Emerging Ireland team is back in action on Sunday, facing Super Rugby Pacific outfit Western Force.

The scores and scorers below ...

Emerging Ireland 38-24 Pumas

The scorers

For Emerging Ireland
Tries: Ward, Murray, Izuchukwu, Smyth, McCarthy, penalty try
Cons: Prendergast 3; penalty try does not require a conversion

For Pumas
Tries: Msenge, Swanepoel 2, E Swart
Cons: C Swart 2

Teams

Emerging Ireland: 15 Ben O’Connor, 14 Rob Russell, 13 Sean O’Brien, 12 Hugh Gavin, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 James Culhane, 7 Alex Kendellen (captain), 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Stephen Smyth, 1 Mark Donnelly.
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Jack Murphy, 23 Jude Postlethwaite.

Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Theuns Pretorius, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Kwanda, Dimaza (captain), 7 Andre Fouche, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Hanno Theunissen, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Etienne Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Eduan Swart, 19 Tiaan de Klerk, 20 Marvelous Mashimbyi, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Phiko Sobahle.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse
Assistant referees: DJ Hefer, Phillip Kotze
TMO Stephan Geldenhuys

Cheetahs 24-38 Western Force

The scorers

For the Cheetahs
Tries: Van der Merwe, Annies, Wegner, Paulo
Cons: Wentzel, Loubser

For the Western Force
Tries: Potter 2, Dolly, Harris
Cons: Burey 3
Pens: Burey 2, Milne 2

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Asanda Kunene, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Jooste Nel, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Pierre-Raymond Uys, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Sisonke Vumazonke, 22 Andell Loubser, 23 Rewan Kruger.

Western Force: 15 Isaac Ratumaitavuki-kneepkens, 14 Justin Landman, 13 Harry Potter, 12 Sio Tompkinson, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Max Burey, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Reed Prinsep (captain) ,7 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 6 Will Harris, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Josh Thompson, 3 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Marley Pearce.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Harry Hoopert, 18 Sila Titiuti, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Titi Nofoagatotoa, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Coby Miln, 23 Divas Palu.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Ashton Ockhuys, Tiaan Engelbrecht
TMO: Ben Whitehouse

* Picture credit: Morgan Piek