Lions put huge dent in Cheetahs' pride

MATCH REPORT: The Lions outplayed the Cheetahs to record an important 33-26 Currie Cup Round 10 win in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

White the Cheetahs retained their spot at the top of the standings, courtesy of two bonus points and the Pumas’ loss to the Sharks the day before, the Lions managed to get themselves firmly back into the play-off race.

The Cheetahs will finish the round with 38 points in the standings, followed by the defending-champion Pumas (35), Sharks (33) and Western Province (27).

The Lions got out the blocks the fastest – centre Rynhardt Jonker getting the first try, after a line-out and a few phases. Sanele Nohamba slotted the conversion and a penalty a couple of minutes later for a 10-0 lead to the visitors.

Poor discipline, missed tackles and turnovers – o right on the Lions’ tryline – continued to cost the Cheetahs, who struggled to get a foothold in the game.

On the half-hour mark, Nohamba kicked a penalty, with Edwill van der Merwe getting the second try from a sublime Morné van den Berg chip-kick. Nohamba added the conversion for a 20-0 lead after 35 minutes.

Despite a growing number of errors and increasing penalty count, hard-working No.8 George Cronjé got the Cheetahs on the board on the stroke of half-time – barging over from close range. Ruan Pienaar slotted the conversion to make it 7-20 at the break.

With 80 percent of the possession and 70 percent of the territory, the Lions dominated the first half – except for a late flurry by the home team.

Cronjé added a second try for the hosts two minutes into the second half, as the Cheetahs upped the ante and the No.8 carried three times as the forwards took the ball up the midfield. Pienaar added the conversion to make it a six-point game – 14-20.

Nohamba added a third penalty, before the Cheetahs launched another fierce raid on the Lions’ line. However, centre David Brits lost the ball with the line just metres away.

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The Lions stretched their lead when Sevens star Johannes Pretorius finished off a move in which forwards and backs combined well, with the crucial play by fullback Quan Horn. Nohamba’s conversion made it 30-14 with a quarter of the match remaining.

It did not help the home team that the penalties continued to mount against them, often in promising positions.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Nohamba made it a 17-point game with his fourth penalty – 33-14.

The Cheetahs, chasing a bonus point or two, closed the gap when Sibabalo Qoma barged over after a series of forward raids. Replacement George Lourens was wide with a very kickable conversion – 19-33, with four minutes remaining.

Despite the home team continuing to turn over the ball on attack, the Cheetahs managed to produce a powerful late maul – replacement hooker Marnus van der Merwe getting the armchair ride for the try. Lourens slotted the conversion to secure two bonus points – one for four tries and a second for losing by seven points of less.

The scorers

For the Cheetahs
Tries: Cronjé 2, Qoma, Van der Merwe
Cons: Pienaar 2, Lourens

For the Lions
Tries: Jonker, Van der Merwe, Pretorius
Cons: Nohamba 3
Pens: Nohamba 4

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 George Cronjé, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Nqobisizwe Mxoli, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Friedle Olivier, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Evardi Boshoff, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 George Lourens.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Johannes Pretorius, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger.
Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Stean Pienaar, 23 Andries Coetzee.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Local appointments
TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron

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