Emerging Irish edge Cheetahs despite yellow cards
MATCH REPORT: The Emerging Irish team completed their short tour of South Africa unbeaten, edging a willing Cheetahs outfit 21-14 in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
The teams went into the break level 7-all, after a feisty first half that saw two Irish players yellow carded – flank Cian Prendergast (24th minute) and lock Joe McCarthy (28th minute).
However, a two-try blitz – in the 51st and 56th minutes – saw the Irish race clear, 21-7.
The Cheetahs’ two tries – one early in the first half and the other five minutes from time – were both penalty tries from a dominant scrum.
Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie admitted his team had enough opportunities to put themselves into a position to win the game, but just were not clinical enough.
“We had seven set pieces inside their 22-metres area in the first half,” Fourie said.
“Our line-out didn’t function, which was a shock to the team – as that is normally an area of strength to us.
“The Irish team also competed very well at line-out time,” he added.
The Cheetahs lost eight line-outs on their own throw.
The hosts were also forced into a rash of last-minute changes, due to illness, but the coach refused to use that as an excuse.
“We are disappointed in our performance on the day,” Fourie said, adding: “It was just not good enough.”
Man of the match: Lock Tom Ahern of the Emerging Irish team got the award, mainly for his work in the set pieces.
The scorers
For the Cheetahs
Tries: Penalty tries 2
Cons: Penalty try does not require a conversion
For Emerging Ireland
Tries: Doak, Daly, Osborne
Cons: Crowley 3
Yellow cards: Cian Prendergast (Emerging Ireland, 24), Joe McCarthy (Emerging Ireland, 28)
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Siyamthanda Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Teboho Mohoje, 7 Rynier Bernardo, 6 Jeandré Rudolph, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Jean Droste, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Munier Hartzenberg.
Emerging Ireland: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Jamie Osbourne, 12 Stewart Moore, 11 Robert Baloucoune, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Max Deegan (captain), 7 John Hodnett, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Tom Ahern, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Michael Milne.
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Roman Salanoa, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 James Culhane, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Chay Mullins.
Referee: Morné Ferreira
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby, Paul Mente
TMO: Marius Jonker
Picture credit: Johan Pretorius
