Cheetahs record memorable win over Georgia

MATCH REPORT: A late try by Ntokoza Makhaza helped the Cheetahs to a memorable 24-20 victory over Georgia in a celebratory match for their 130th anniversary in Bloemfontein on Friday evening.

The two-time Varsity Cup Player of the Year did not put a foot wrong and scored the first and last tries of the match.

The game between the Cheetahs and the visiting Georgians got off to a slow start.

Two players made their debuts in the Cheetahs jersey: speedy winger Makhaza and tighthead prop Ben Pitout.

Fifteen minutes into the game, the Cheetahs finally worked their way into the 22 of Georgia. But, captain Victor Sekekete was offside.

A touch finder by Tengiz Peranidze, scrumhalf for Georgia, moved play back into the Cheetahs’ 22.

Unfortunately, due to obstruction by the visitors, their attacking opportunities resulted in nothing.

A massive hoist by Tedo Abzhandadze finally gifted debutant Mkahaza his first try for the orange and white side after a brilliant break by Banie Britz.

The Georgians’ plan was evidently to disrupt at the breakdown, making it difficult for Rewan Kruger to clear.

A poor relieving kick by Kruger helped the visitors to get back into the Cheetahs’ 22, from where they had various options in the Cheetahs’ 22.

But it was another opportunity gone for Georgia after a knock.

A nicely weighted kick by Wentzel sent the Cheetahs back into their opponent’s half of the field, an 85 m turnaround for coach Ruan Pienaar’s charges.

A desperate Georgia defended well, but eventually Britz followed up a grubber kick by Ewan Wentzel for the home side’s second try, taking the Cheetahs’ lead to 14-0.

With five minutes of the first half left, play was back to a midfield line-out.

The Cheetahs showed some soft hands as the ball went coast to coast, but were unsuccessful in keeping possession.

A reflection of the first side showed a fairly polished Cheetah side, while Georgia would have rued their struggles in the set pieces.

With a penalty to Georgia with seconds to go, their captain opted for a touch finder to give themselves a last-gasp opportunity in the first half to get points on the board.

It worked in their favour, and some sluggish-looking attack efforts finally landed them their first try in the dying moments of the first half. Flyhalf Tedo Abzhandadze converted to bring them back to within seven points.

The Cheetahs got out of the blocks from the kick-off in the second half, Britz showing great pace after a deep kick by Wentzel.

But Aptsiauri managed to get an intercept after an unforced error, and he raced all the way to score on the other side of the field. Abzhandadze converted to equal the score at 14-14.

However, a successful penalty kick by Cohen took his team into the lead once more.

After changes to their front row, Georgia dominated in the scrum, getting themselves on the front foot and into the Cheetahs’ 22.

The Cheetahs lost Britz, struggling with cramps, and were replaced by Clayton Blommetjies.

The last quarter saw Georgia up the ante, and after a few structured phases, forced a mistake by the Cheetahs and opted to kick for poles.

Abzhandadze made no mistake, and it was 17-17.

The Georgians were making use of the altitude, sending bombing kicks down the field to gain ascendancy in the game.

Georgia coach Richard Cockerell had sent his more experienced players into the fray by then, and that proved to make a massive difference for the visitors.

Another successful penalty kick by Abzhandadze took his team into the lead for the first time.

And then Makhaza got his second try, after some great interplay by the Cheetahs. Cohen’s conversion was good, and his side was ahead 24-20.

The match ended with the Cheetahs closing out the game as victors.

With the Test against the Springboks coming up in Nelspruit in a week’s time, Cockerell hopefully got more answers than questions out of this friendly.

The scorers:

For Cheetahs:
Tries: Makhaza 2, Britz
Cons: Jasper 3

For Georgia:
Tries: Aptsiauri 2
Cons: Abzhandadze 2
Pens: Abzhandadze 3

Teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Ntokozo Makhaza, 13 Marko Janse van Vuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenck, 7 Pierre Raymond Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Pieter Janse van Vuren, 3 Frankie dos Reis, 2 Marco Janse van Rensburg, 1 Hencus van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 ⁠Vernon Jasper, 17 ⁠Cameron Dawson, 18 ⁠Ben Pitout, 19 ⁠Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 ⁠Daniel Maartens, 21 ⁠Jandre Nel, 22 ⁠Carel Jan Coetzee, 23 ⁠Clayton Blommetjies

Georgia: 15 Dachi Papunashvili, 14 Shalva Aptsiauri, 13 Tornike Kakhoidze, 12 Giorgi Khaindrava, 11 Otar Metreveli, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Tengiz Peranidze, 8 Ilia Spanderashvili, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 5 Demur Epremidze, 4 Guga Ghaniashvili, 3 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 1 Giorgi Tetrashvili.
Replacements: 16 Vakhtang Jincharadze, 17 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 18 Beka Gigashvili, 19 Mikheil Babunashvili, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 22 Luka Matkava, 23 Deme Tapladze.

Referee: Christopher Allison.
Assistant referees: Tiaan Engelbrecht & Ashton Ockhuys
TMO: AJ Jacobs.