Cheetahs back at the helm after rain-delayed game resumes
MATCH REPORT: During a rain-delayed game the Cheetahs climbed to the top of the Currie Cup log when they made small fry of the Griffons in Bloemfontein on Friday evening, claiming a 33-10 victory.
The match started in good spirits as Teboho Mohoje took the field early to celebrate his 100th cap for the Cheetahs, but was then delayed by 10 minutes due to inclement weather. When it did kick off at 19:15, it lasted a full 45 seconds before the floodlights failed.
Players remained on the field for a short while and were then taken off for safety reasons due to the lightning.
After two hours the players appeared back on the field to warm up and it was announced that kick-off will resume at 21:30. Unfortunately for all the supporters of these two teams the game was not televised as Supersport had decided to pack up their gear.
The incredible lightning caught on our cameras which forced the #CurrieCup match between the Cheetahs and Griffons to be suspended 🌩️🔦 pic.twitter.com/e9yWWKULzu
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 28, 2023
The first points of the long-awaited game finally came in the 18th minute thanks to a successful penalty kick by the visitors’ Robbie Petzer.
The Cheetahs fought back and soon took the lead thanks to two quick tries, by Daniel Maartens and Tapiwa Mafura, which were both converted by Siya Masuku, edging ahead by 14-3.
Fullback Mafura followed this up with his second try of the night which Masuku also converted for the Cheetahs to extend their lead to 21-3 going into half-time.
Ten minutes into the second half livewire flank Maartens managed to cross the whitewash for a second time and Masuku was again on point with the conversion.
But typically the Purple People Eaters never roll over, fighting back to score a try by fullback Duren Hoffman, converted by Jaywinn Juries after an hour of play, trailing by 28-10 with twenty minutes left on the clock.
With two minutes and the end in sight, replacement Evardi Boshoff crossed for the Cheetahs’ fifth final try.
The Cheetahs can thank the Lions for upending the Pumas, the defending champions earlier in the day and enabling the men from Bloemfontein to claim the top spot.
Scorers below the standings…
Scorers:
For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Maartens 2, Mafura 2, Boshoff
Cons: Masuku 4
For the Griffons:
Try: Hoffman
Con: Juries
Pen: Petzer
Yellow cards: Sokuphumla Xakalashe (Griffons, 48), Doctor Booysen (Griffons, 78)
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Andell Loubser, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Tobohe Mohoje, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain ), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Arnanos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacemengts: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Jean Droste, 20 George Cronje, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23George Lourens
Griffons: 15 Duren Hoffman, 14 Granwill Matthys, 13 CJ Coetzee, 12 Marquit September, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Robbie Petzer, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Jean Pretorius, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 HP van Schoor, 1 Xolani Jacobs
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Doctor Booysen, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Thato Mavundla, 21 Jaywinn Juries, 22 Duan Pretorius, 23 Keanu Vers
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Johre Botha and Jason Marrow
TMO: Ben Crouse
