Cheetahs easily dispatch 14-man Lions
MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs put their Currie Cup campaign back on track with a commanding 52-15 win over a 14-man Lions team at Ellis Park on Sunday.
The visitors from Bloemfontein outscored their hosts by eight tries to two in a game that produced four cards – a red card to Lions lock Raynard Roets on the stroke of half-time (for a dangerous clear-out at a ruck), to go with yellow cards for Ruan Pienaar (Cheetahs – cynical foul, not retreating 10 metres), Jurich Claasens (Lions – repeated infringements, off his feet at the tackle) and Daniel Kasende (Cheetahs repeated infringements, offside).
The heavy loss came on the same day that news broke of another boardroom bombshell at Ellis Park -accusations of management members ‘spying’ on each other.
* To recap the Ellis Park action, CLICK HERE!
The Lions opened the scoring in the second minute – a line-out stolen by the Lions, with quick hands creating the momentum and Darrien-Lane Landsberg going over.
The Cheetahs replied with a brutally efficient maul, before flyhalf Reinhardt Fortuin put fullback Tapiwa Mafura in the clear.
Vaughen Isaacs slotted a penalty for a 10-7 lead, before Jeandre Rudolph found acres of space at a ruck and strolled over for a second try – 14-10.
Pienaar (in the 27th minute) and Claasens (33td minute) were sent to the sin bin, before Roets was given his marching orders in the 40th minute for a dangerous shoulder clear-out at a ruck.
The Cheetahs’ forwards were again efficient in setting a platform, before the backs used the space created, Mafura got his second – making it 19-10 to the visitors at the break.
The Cheetahs continued their dominance after the break, another powerful maul allowing hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg to vet on the scoreboard.
Now the backs laid the platform for the Cheetahs – Robert Ebersohn, Munier Hartzenberg and Tapiwa Mafura involved – before the forwards took over and Rudolph barged over for his second.
Another powerful maul on the hour mark saw Daniel Maartens go over.
The Lions were looking to salvage some pride and a number of raids resulted in a yellow card Cheetahs wing Daniel Kasende for repeated infringements, going offside.
They produced a good maul, and Michael van Vuuren got the home team’s second try.
There was enough time for a by Louis van der Westhuizen and Tapiwa Mafura completing his hat-trick – the Cheetahs taking their score past the half-century mark.
The scorers
For the Lions
Tries: Landsberg, Van Vuuren
Con: Isaacs
Pen: Isaacs
Cheetahs
Tries: Mafura 3, Rudolph 2, Janse van Rensburg, Maartens, Van der Westhuizen
Cons: Pienaar 4, Fortuin, Jasper
Red card: Raynard Roets (Lions, 40 – foul play, dangerous clear-out at ruck)
Yellow card: Ruan Pienaar (Cheetahs, 27 – cynical foul, not retreating 10 metres), Jurich Claasens (Lions, 33 – repeated infringements, off his feet at the tackle), Daniel Kasende (Cheetahs, 66 – repeated infringements, offside)
Teams:
Lions: 15 Vaughen Isaacs, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Matt More, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Ilunga Mukendi, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Ruhan Straeuli, 7 Peter-John Steenkamp, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naudé.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Cal Smid, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Andre Warner, 23 Zeilinga Strydom
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Lawrence Victor, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Cohen Jasper.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Christopher Allison
