Cheetahs and WP in semi-finals

Cheetahs on top – even at Newlands

The Cheetahs and Western Province have met three times in semi-finals, each time at Newlands where they meet this week for the fourth time in semi-finals.

The Cheetahs are leading 2-1.

They met in 1973, 2001 and 2004. On two of those occasions Newlands was soaking wet and muddy. Those were the two which the perverse Free Staters won. This year the weather man tells us the weather is going to be good – clear with a high of 29°C and a southwester of 10 km/h.

Do history and the weather forecast combine to foretell a Province victory?

1973

Orange Free State vs Western :Province, 19-15 on 15 September 1973

The 20 provinces were divided into four sections, each with five teams.

Western Province won Section C, Free State Section D. They met in the semi-final.

Newlands then was an entirely natural surface. Each Saturday afternoon there were three club matches on the ground. When the winter rains fell in this, the wettest part of South Africa, Newlands became heavy and muddy. On the day of this semi-final Newlands was wet, heavy and muddy. In theory this would suit Western Province better than the men from the dry Highveld with its hard fields.

Instead Free State were better in the conditions and deserved their victory even though the home side had led 4-0 at half-time.

For Free State Gerrie Germishuys scored two tries, André Bestbier one.

This was the first time Free State had ever beaten Western Province at Newlands. Victory meant that they went into the Currie Cup final for the first time in their history.

The opposing flyhalves that day were bothers – Dawie Snyman for Western Province, Jackie Snyman for Orange Free State.

Morné du Plessis captained Western Province, Johan Kleingeld Free State.

2001

Western Province vs Cheetahs, 40-18 on 20 October 2001

There was nothing much in it at half-time when Western Province led only 19-15. There was daylight between the two teams by the end. But that first half was tough as the two teams flew into each other, sometimes on the edge of unwarranted violence. One punished was Bob Skinstad, sent to the sin bin for stamping. Hendro Scholtz then joined him.

Hendrik Gerber scored two tries and Breyton Paulse one. With his severe concentration and metronomic boot Braam, van Straaten kicked seven penalty goals and a conversion. For Free State Kennedy Tsimba and Friedrich Lombaard scored tries.

Tsimba actually scored first when he swept over for a try which he converted to make it 7-0. Van Straaten's boot made it 7-6. Kicks made it 10-9 then in the tackle Skinstad, back from the bin, off-loaded brilliantly to Hendrik Gerber who scored. For the first time Western Province were ahead, 16-10.

Back came the Cheetahs. Lombaard got past De Wet Barry and scored. 16-15 before Van Straaten made it 19-15.

It looked as if the seesaw would continue going up and down when Tsimba made it 19-18 but then Western Province's class began to tell.

Van Straaten broke and Paulse scored. Van Straaten kicked three more penalties. Paulse ran and Gerber scored. This time Chris Rossouw kicked the goal.

2004

Cheetahs vs Western Province, 17-11 on 16 October 2004

It poured with rain at Newlands, and again the men from the dry inland beat the webfooted men from the wet coast.

In an error-ridden match Willem de Waal got things right better than most as he swung his boot on a long pendulum. His first kick, in the first minute, was from five metres inside his own half.

Western Province won a turn-over, Breyton Paulse cut back and there was Schalk Burger flying over in the corner.

For a short while Western Province led 6-5, but then De Waal goaled again and then shortly afterwards yet again. Just on half-time Gaffie du Toit kicked a penalty to make the score at the break 9-8 to the Cheetahs.

Free State went further ahead when centre Jacques Claassens beat Breyton Paulse to a charged-down ball in the Province in-goal.

Province attacked, the Cheetahs defended and the weather did not improve. Du Toit kicked a penalty to make it 14-11 but then De Waal bashed over a drop.

It was a match the Cheetahs deserved to win as they were smarter in the wet than Western Province who may not have realised that it was raining.

It was a try apiece but De Waal made a big difference.

De Waal and his boot are back in town in 2005. For a repeat?