Black Lion edge Cheetahs in Challenge opener 

MATCH REPORT: Black Lion edged the Cheetahs by 39-38 in the opener of the Toyota Challenge.

The Cheetahs showed their intent to play the ball wide from the outset, but made a handling error in the opening minute.

Black Lion showed their power early on, dominating the Cheetahs’ scrum and winning a penalty after their attack for not rolling away.

The visitors opted for the attacking line-out inside the Cheetahs’ 22 metre area and formed a powerful rolling maul, and won another penalty.

Flyhalf Luka Tsirekidze stepped up for the opening points of the match, slotting a successful penalty goal in the fifth minute.

The Cheetahs scored an amazing counter-attacking try from their own half through Marco Janse van Vuren, which was sparked by Tielmal Nieuwoudt’s turnover.

The hosts played the ball through multiple sets of hands before Clayton Blommetjies got a crossfield kick in to set Janse van Vuuren up in the 14th minute. Cohen Jasper added the extras.

Black Lion struck back minutes later after Michael Annies’ midfield on a high ball gave the visitors an attacking line-out.

They bashed it up before Mamatavrishili dotted down in the 19th minute. The conversion was unsuccessful.

Back-to-back penalties gave the Cheetahs a 22 metre entry in the Black Lions’ half.

The Cheetahs went wide and Jasper went over for the host’s second try in the 29th minute and converted his own try.

Black Lion won a penalty and opted for the five-metre line-out.

They formed a maul before going wide and powered their way over the line through Irakli Kvatadze, who dotted down in the 33rd minute. Tsirekidze slotted conversion.

Black Lion prop Kakhaber Darbaidse received a yellow card for repeated team infringement on the 40-minute mark.

The Cheetahs had the final say of the first half as Annies slicked through the Black Lion defence to get the Cheetahs ahead on the stroke of half-time. Jasper added the extras as the teams went to the sheds.

The second-half scoring took place through captain Victor Sekekete in the 44th minute through an offload by Chucky van der Westhuizen under the posts. Jasper added the extras.

Black Lion struck back two minutes later through Giorgi Sinauridze, following a restart receive mistake by the Cheetahs, and Tsirekidze added the conversion.

The visitors won back-to-back scores started by an intercept pass thrown by Clayton Blommetjies.

The ball went through multiple sets of hands before Tabutsadze scored in the corner. The conversion was voided as the shot clock expired on Tsirekidze.

Black Lion won a scrum penalty and set the line-out on the Cheetahs’ five-metre line.

They got the try through a pick and drive play as Dato Abdushelishvili went low and charged over the line to reclaim the lead in the 61st minute. The conversion went wide to the right.

A comical, opportunistic try by Daniel Maartens in the 62nd minute after a misfielded kick by the Black Lions got the Cheetahs straight back ahead in the match, but a TMO consultancy deemed that Sinauridze had a foot in touch.

The try was chalked off, but the Cheetahs got the line-out throw-in in but butchered it with a crooked throw.

A kick by the visitors saw them regather the ball and stop just short before Abdushelishvili barged over the line for his brace. Otar Metreveli added the extras.

The Cheetahs had an opportunity to have the final say after multiple penalties conceded by black Lion, and Giorgi Nikoladze got a yellow card

They ended up having the final say through Marco Janse van Rensburg, who scored through a rolling maul. Jasper missed the extras.

The Cheetahs had one final opportunity to pull it from the fire from deep and won a penalty.

Zander du Plessis nailed a beauty of a kick 10 metres from Black Lion’s line.

They formed a powerful maul before Prince Nkabinde scored in the corner to bring his team within one point with the conversion to come.

Jasper’s kick from the sideline went away to the right as Black Lion walked away with the narrowest of wins.

Scorers:

For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Janse van Vuren, Jasper, Annies, Sekekete, Janse van Rensburg, Nkabinde
Cons: Jasper 4

For Black Lion:
Tries: Mamamtavrishvili, Kvatadze, Sinauridze, Tabutsadze, Abdushelishvili 2
Cons: Tsirekidze 2, Metreveli
Pens: Tsirekidze

Yellow cards: Kakhaber Darbaidze (Black Lion, 40′ – repeated team infringements), Giorgi Nikoladze (Black Lion, 79′ – repeated team infringements)

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Franco Smith, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Raymond Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Arno van der Merwe, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Tielman Niewoudt
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Malcom Lamont, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Mihlali Mosi, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Zander du Plessis

Black Lion: 15 Otar Metreveli, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Zaur Lutidze, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Shalva Aptsiauri, 10 Luka Tsirekidze, 9 Tengiz Pranidze, 8 Giorgi Sinauridze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 5 Demur Epremidze, 4 Mikheil Babunashvili (captain), 3 Kakhaber Darbaidze, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 1 Dato Abdushelishvili
Replacements: 16 Tamaz Tchamiashvili, 17 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 18 Badri Tsikhistavi, 19 Giorgi Nikoladze, 20 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 21 Giorgi Spanderashvili, 22 Alexander Todua, 23 Luka Takaishvili.

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Assistant referees: Tiaan Engelbrecht, Ashton Ockhuys
TMO: Stephan Geldenhuys